There are many plants in the botanical kingdom that may appear like a mint, but they’re actually not! Let’s spot them out!
Mint has a distinctive leaf pattern, and many specimens share similar foliage traits with the herb in question!
Learn How to Plant Mint for Ground Cover
Plants that Look Like Mint
1. Hairy Mountain Mint
Botanical Name: Pycnanthemum pilosum
What makes Hairy Mountain Mint unique are its hairy leaves with a peppery aroma, distinguishing it from Mint.
2. Hemp Nettle
Botanical Name: Galeopsis tetrahit
Hemp nettle resembles Mint in appearance but is known for its unpleasant smell and is considered an agricultural weed.
3. Dead Nettle
Botanical Name: Lamium spp.
Dead Nettle belongs to the Lamiaceae family and can be differentiated by its lack of minty flavor, hairy stems, and unique aroma.
4. Small-Flowered Melissa
Botanical Name: Melissa axillaris
As the name suggests, Small-flowered Melissa has tiny flowers, typically purple or pink, and with a less noticeable smell, whereas mint blooms are commonly white or lavender.
5. Henbit
Botanical Name: Lamium amplexicaule
Henmit, commonly known as giraffe head, belongs to the mint family but can be distinguished by its distinct smell and leaf shape variations
6. Stinging Nettle
Botanical Name: Urtica dioica
This plant has stinging hairs called trichomes, which cause a burning sensation upon contact – a feature absent in Mint!
7. Patchouli
Botanical Name: Pogostemon cablin Benth.
Patchouli is known for its musky scent, which is used in perfumery. Its leaves are similar to Mint but differ significantly in use and aroma.
Plants that are Also Called Mints
8. Jamaican Mint
Botanical Name: Micromeria viminea
Jamaican Mint is similar to true mints in its appearance with rounded, green leaves and aromatic scent, but it lacks the intense menthol characteristic.
9. Bush Mint
Botanical Name: Mentha satureioides
Bush mint has an aromatic scent with distinct notes like licorice or camphor, lacking the menthol trait that defines authentic Mint.
10. Korean Mint
Botanical Name: Agastache rugosa
Korean Mint shares a minty flavor but has an anise-like taste and particular culinary uses in Korean cuisine. Also, its taller growth sets it apart visually from Mint.
11. Perilla Mint
Botanical Name: Perilla frutescens
Perilla Mint, also known as Beefsteak plant, offers a unique flavor beyond typical mintiness, making it a valuable addition to your kitchen!
12. Lemon Balm
Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
While both look very similar, lemon balm has unique properties like calming and anxiety-relieving effects, which are generally absent in mint varieties.
13. Catnip
Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria
While visually similar to Mint, catnip differs due to its active compound, nepetalactone, which has a euphoric and fun effect on felines.
