Posted by Nelly Wensdow on June 10, 2010, 4:38 pm
This "weed" came in with a load of topsoil a few years ago. It smells &
tastes like pennyroyal, I just love the stuff. So much that I brought some
with me when I moved to another state. I've been keeping it in a half-barrel
planter, and every year it seems to get worse. The newer growth doesn't seem
so much affected as the first spring shoots, though.
http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/M%20arvensis.JPG
Posted by Bill who putters on June 10, 2010, 5:02 pm
> This "weed" came in with a load of topsoil a few years ago. It smells &
> tastes like pennyroyal, I just love the stuff. So much that I brought some
> with me when I moved to another state. I've been keeping it in a half-barrel
> planter, and every year it seems to get worse. The newer growth doesn't seem
> so much affected as the first spring shoots, though.
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/M%20arvensis.JPG
I'd sterilize and replant in a year. NASTY looking but container
growing really requires a lot of hands on I'd miss this image in my wild
garden. Whew!!!
--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?
http://ocg6.marine.usf.edu/~liu/Drifters/latest_roms.htm
Posted by David E. Ross on June 10, 2010, 6:55 pm
On 6/10/10 1:38 PM, Nelly Wensdow wrote:
> This "weed" came in with a load of topsoil a few years ago. It smells &
> tastes like pennyroyal, I just love the stuff. So much that I brought some
> with me when I moved to another state. I've been keeping it in a half-barrel
> planter, and every year it seems to get worse. The newer growth doesn't seem
> so much affected as the first spring shoots, though.
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/M%20arvensis.JPG
>
>
>
If it is indeed pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), it requires constant
moisture. It even tolerates wet soil. It needs either full sun or part
shade and occasional feeding.
However, pennyroyal has round leaves. Your photos shows long, pointed
leaves.
Be careful with pennyroyal, both in your garden and in your mouth. All
mints can become very invasive if they escape a container. Pennyroyal
can be toxic if you eat significant amounts, but it's safe in small
amounts (e.g., as a flavoring).
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>
Posted by Bill who putters on June 10, 2010, 7:27 pm
> On 6/10/10 1:38 PM, Nelly Wensdow wrote:
> > This "weed" came in with a load of topsoil a few years ago. It smells &
> > tastes like pennyroyal, I just love the stuff. So much that I brought some
> > with me when I moved to another state. I've been keeping it in a
> > half-barrel
> > planter, and every year it seems to get worse. The newer growth doesn't
> > seem
> > so much affected as the first spring shoots, though.
> >
> > http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/M%20arvensis.JPG
> >
> >
> >
>
> If it is indeed pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), it requires constant
> moisture. It even tolerates wet soil. It needs either full sun or part
> shade and occasional feeding.
>
> However, pennyroyal has round leaves. Your photos shows long, pointed
> leaves.
>
> Be careful with pennyroyal, both in your garden and in your mouth. All
> mints can become very invasive if they escape a container. Pennyroyal
> can be toxic if you eat significant amounts, but it's safe in small
> amounts (e.g., as a flavoring).
Essential oil of pennyroyal once used to abort children. Still useful
to drive ants out of a home. Smells sweet then cloys . A little goes
a long way.
--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?
http://ocg6.marine.usf.edu/~liu/Drifters/latest_roms.htm
Posted by Nelly Wensdow on June 10, 2010, 8:16 pm
>> If it is indeed pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), it requires constant
>> moisture. It even tolerates wet soil. It needs either full sun or part
>> shade and occasional feeding.
>>
>> However, pennyroyal has round leaves. Your photos shows long, pointed
>> leaves.
>>
>> Be careful with pennyroyal, both in your garden and in your mouth. All
>> mints can become very invasive if they escape a container. Pennyroyal
>> can be toxic if you eat significant amounts, but it's safe in small
>> amounts (e.g., as a flavoring).
> Essential oil of pennyroyal once used to abort children. Still useful
> to drive ants out of a home. Smells sweet then cloys . A little goes
> a long way.
All true. I've grown M. pulegium before, but I think this is arvensis.
Actually its leaf form is more like the American pennyroyal, Hedeoma
pulegioides. But I wonder if the same compound that's bad is also in this,
as well as the American.
Here's what the plant normally looks like, maybe someone can confirm/deny my
ID:
http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/Mentha%20arvensis.JPG
The leaves are I guess at most 25mm long.
XML site map
> tastes like pennyroyal, I just love the stuff. So much that I brought some
> with me when I moved to another state. I've been keeping it in a half-barrel
> planter, and every year it seems to get worse. The newer growth doesn't seem
> so much affected as the first spring shoots, though.
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/slyrp/Plants/M%20arvensis.JPG