Where to get pennyroyal plants

Bloom: Violet, Late Summer - Fall. Pot Size: 3. Availability: Spring Add to Cart. Product Features. Pennyroyal Plants Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal, the smallest member of the Mint family , is a world renowned medicinal herb with a pungent aroma and acrid flavor.

Preferring moist, low laying areas this herb is also known as "Lurk in the Ditch" because of its fondness of ditches and swamps. Pennyroyal has been highly regarded throughout traditional medicine for its effectiveness in treating colds, bloating and spasms.

Used as a repellent for fleas in Ancient Rome, Pennyroyal was thought to purify air and water and was hung in the rooms of sick people because of its strong aroma. Mentha pulegium P. A creeping downy mint with prominent lilac flower whorls. Flowers: August on. Requires: Damp. Height: cm. If ordered with other plants that are not quite ready but will be soon, your whole order may be kept back till all items can be sent together.

Commonly known as European pennyroyal, or pennyrile, also called squaw mint, mosquito plant and pudding grass, Crushed pennyroyal leaves emit a very strong fragrance similar to spearmint. The scent of crushed pennyroyal is quite pungent, and its ability to repel nuisance insects like fleas and mosquitoes gives it value in herb, flower, or vegetable gardens. Pennyroyal plants grow best in partial sunlight, but full sun is also tolerated as long as they receive adequate moisture.

As a general rule of thumb, aim to plant your pennyroyal somewhere that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. Pennyroyal plants grow at their best in moist, rich soil that has been amended with organic matter. That being said, the plant can also grow in clay or sandy conditions—in fact, sometimes a less-than-ideal soil blend can help to keep pennyroyal's rapid growth in check. Regular moisture is an important element to a thriving pennyroyal plant.

The surface of the soil should always feel moist to the touch. Additionally, pennyroyal grows well in damp areas like stream banks or low-lying depressions in the landscape. Pennyroyal grows equally well in areas with cool or hot summers. Humid conditions are better than dry or desert areas for growth—however, pennyroyal can adapt to dry climates provided it gets enough irrigation.

Chemical fertilizers aren't necessary to grow healthy pennyroyal plants. The plants can get all the nutrition they need from soil rich in organic humus from leaf mold , manure , or compost.

In fact, too much fertilizer can reduce flowering in pennyroyal plants. Cutting back your pennyroyal plants is an important part of keeping the plant's growth contained. Pennyroyal spreads indefinitely by creeping stolons in the same way mint does , and it can become invasive if not kept in check.

Pull up the edges of your pennyroyal plant where it is rooting and spreading, and trim as desired to keep the plant in its designated spot. Do this more frequently in wet, warm weather; at least weekly. Additionally, cutting back pennyroyal plants after flowering helps to keep the plant tidy as well. Making new pennyroyal plants is as simple as digging up a piece of the plant and replanting it in moist soil. Pennyroyal roots along its stem as it spreads, so if you remove a plant piece that is already forming roots, the propagation process will be a quick and easy matter of division.

For younger plants that haven't begun to spread, you can easily root a tip cutting in moist soil or a vase filled with water.