6

This plant is growing in my garden and when the leaves are rubbed it smells minty. Can anyone identify it?

plant2 plant1

Brenn
  • 3,046
  • 11
  • 23
Megan Joyce
  • 63
  • 1
  • 4

2 Answers2

5

Yup. It's Salvia "Hot Lips"

"Delicate red and white blooms create a stunning show throughout summer. Some flowers will bloom in solid red color attracting bees and hummingbirds. With a little protection, this Mexican introduction will happily over-winter in zone 6."

enter image description here

Brenn
  • 3,046
  • 11
  • 23
1

It is Salvia 'Hot Lips' - the salvias include the sages, used in cooking, so what you're detecting isn't mint, but possibly a sage like scent.This one's not generally used for culinary purposes.

Bamboo
  • 131,823
  • 3
  • 72
  • 162
  • Salvia is a mint. – Brenn Sep 13 '16 at 19:37
  • 2
    @Brenn No, its not - Mentha is mint, Salvia is sage, Salvia officinalis being the one mostly used in cooking. Both Salvia and Mentha belong to the Lamiaceae, but that's the only connection. – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 21:45
  • Sorry, but Salvia is a mint. – Brenn Sep 13 '16 at 21:47
  • Please cite your source – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 21:49
  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia – Brenn Sep 13 '16 at 21:50
  • Ah, Wiki as usual - Lamiacea is sometimes known as the 'mint family' but that doesn't make sage a mint any more than Lamium is a mint - the term 'mint family' is common usage - you will see it is not quoted as 'mint family' here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 21:52
  • If simple semantics are in play here, the Lamiacae Family IS the mint Family. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamiaceae. Sigh. This is trite of us. – Brenn Sep 13 '16 at 21:58
  • 1
    Well, we'll leave it by agreeing to disagree - but I wouldn't fancy salvia or lamium sauce with my roast lamb just because they're commonly known as 'mint family'! – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 22:03
  • So, by that logic, mint is in the 'sage family'? – Viv Sep 13 '16 at 22:27
  • 2
    No, its in the Lamiaceae, though you could call it the Sage family if you like - if you want to refer to it as sage or mint or fred's family, you can, but Salvia is not the same as Mentha. And by the logic Brenn/Wiki is using, presumably a Pyracantha or Photinia are roses because, like roses, they belong to the Rosaceae family.... – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 22:51
  • @Viv sorry, forgot to ping you when I answered... – Bamboo Sep 13 '16 at 23:05