Mentha requienii - Mint

Mentha requienii, also known as Corsican mint, is a creeping, semi-evergreen perennial plant that prefers shade and moist soil. It forms a very low carpet composed of tiny round leaves with a light green colour, emitting a sweet and strong scent of peppermint. The flowering occurs throughout summer, with small pink-purple rounded flowers that sit on its foliage. This semi-hardy plant can tolerate light foot traffic and looks stunning in the gaps between paving stones. It self-seeds abundantly but remains easy to control.

It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is native to damp areas in mountainous Mediterranean regions, mainly in Corsica, but also in Sardinia, on the island of Montecristo, and in Portugal. It is an aromatic herbaceous and creeping species without rhizomes, with stems spreading up to 40cm (16in) but not exceeding 1cm (0.4in) in height. The lilac, mauve-pink, and translucent flowers boast pearly reflections. They bloom in small axillary clusters of 2 to 6 flowers, which are spaced out and quite loose. The flowers are tiny, densely packed, and tubular. The stems are thread-like, prostrate and creeping, and bear tiny leaves measuring 3 to 5mm in length. They are petiolate, ovate, entire, sparsely hairy or almost glabrous. They have a light and vibrant green colour and their persistence varies depending on the severity of the winter. The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -6°C (21.2°F).

Corsican mint thrives in moist soil and shady areas. In the garden, it can be used in certain habitats such as a cool understory, with plants such as corydalis, bleeding hearts, Soleirolia soleirolii, Hakonechloa or Japanese forest grass, Alchemilla mollis, or Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign'. It is particularly enhanced by the proximity of stones and easily finds its way between paving stones or mossy rocks. Moderate foot traffic, for example, when planted between the slabs of a pathway, will not endanger its survival. It grows very well in pots, allowing it to be placed at nose level to enjoy its fragrance and be brought indoors during severe frosts. In the vegetable garden, Corsican mint, like pennyroyal mint, has the reputation of enhancing the flavour of cabbages while protecting the crops from certain pests.

In cooking, the leaves are used to make infusions or flavour alcoholic beverages, such as the famous 'Crème de Menthe'. Its scent effectively repels mice and rats. You can always try scattering handfuls of foliage where these small mammals are active.