is it Penny Royal?

I used to know it as that - a dark green mat forming plant which grows between paving slabs and smells of mint when you walk on it.

I have just been on "Victorian plant" web site and it looks like apple mint what they are trying to sell, have I got the right name?

My puppies will have to come soon as I am just sitting here ordering more plants and seeds on line!

 

pennyroyal is a dense mat and does belong to the mint family..why dont you buy some from barwinock herbs?/its probably cheaper..

 

Thanks wildflower - there seem to be two versions of it, an upright and trailing. It is cheaper on the site, but P& P makes it add up to a lot for a common thing, so I will look a bit furter localy first.

 

you can buy pennyroyal seeds mentha pulegium from suffolk herbs they cost �£1.49 a packet and you would get loads of plants..just a thought..

 

Penny royal a great ant deterrant - they don't like the perfume - and won't cross the juice on the floor. Why they used to put some in cupboards.

 

Wildflower - seeds a great idea as I need lots, postage would bu much less too.

Great news about ant deterent too, will definately go for it - thanks!

 

Pennyroyal is now an endangered species and found growing wild in only about 12 sites in southern Britain. It used to grow happily in the churned up mud of cattle wallows on village greens.

More info and a photo can be seen here: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=447

[ 19. June 2006, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Hornbeam ]

 

Mentha pulegium must be wrong name for whe I am thinking of as they say it grows to 25cm, the one I am thinking of grows to about 1/2 cm and grows flat in amongst paving stones.

Any clues?

 

Penny royal does indeed grow flat and creep - but the flowering stem stands proud and can form quite a little clump while they last.

 

Thanks Fran, just never seen it flower before.

 

I managed to buy some pennyroyal from Suffolk seeds through our local nursery (99p) so saved the post as well!

She also recomended creeping thyme, so I went rash and bought a packet of this too - what do you think their chances are if I plant now?

 

are you starting them off in pots? if so you should be able to get them going enough to plant out early october..the penny royal is fully hardy so you should be okay..well you have about 13 weeks to get it going before you plant it ..i have never had problems with thyme but its a bit slow as you probably allready know..

 

Thanks, I think I will risk my 99pence worth, I am going to start in pots, so I could always keep some indoors over winter..

I have never grown Thyme from seed, though could imagine it could take some time (ha ha) as it is quite woody. I just want to get the gaps filled in my poor paving.

 

Penny royal is often used in gardens for the blind. It is put in to lawns so when they walk over it they get the fragrace.

 

That is exactly why I want it, I can smell it just thinking about it.

I am hopeful for the thyme too - we will see.