Mint is a perennial culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 90 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 11 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize.
Zones
3-11
pH Range
4.5-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
90
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What Mint is
Mint grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms pink in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Mint
Mint grows in USDA zones 3 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting. Mint does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 40 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
90 days
Spearmint; aggressive perennial; propagated by division/cutting (not seed).
USDA-NRCS; UMD-Herb
GDD Required
1500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
40+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant mint in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Mint prefers pH 4.5 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Mint is ready about 90 days after planting (USDA-NRCS; UMD-Herb). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — mint isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Mint offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Mint thrives
On hardiness alone, mint grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 3 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–11·Where Mint growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Mint can grow in these states:
See if Mint will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether mint actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Mint in my zone?
Mint grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Mint take to grow?
Mint is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting (USDA-NRCS; UMD-Herb). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Mint?
Most growers plant mint after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 40-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Mint need?
Mint needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Mint need?
Mint prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Mint attract pollinators?
Yes — mint's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Mint safe for pets?
Mint is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.