I was wondering also if anyone knew some place to find true peppermint. I can't find it anywhere.

As posted many many times before. The Richters company in Canada carries many mints and Peppermint plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: RIchters

Thanks alot. So this is a good company to buy from? And again, would you happen to know what kind of mint the " Mentha Species" one is?

Mentha may mean its a menthol hint mint.. IN the list, Richters has many mints of all kinds, so go back a few pages and check out the rest. I have had decent luck with seeds from Richters. A few plants I bought, small bush type basil, had died before it was even planted, but Richters credited me for the loss. Richters has Menthol mint as seeds and the attached is their list of plants. Notice almost 40 kinds of mint plants..

Here is a link that might be useful: Richters herb plants

Sorry, ksrogers, but there's a need to clarify things a bit here!

Plants are botanically classified in various ways. First, there's the overall classification 'Plantae', then there are gradually smaller and smaller groups, eventually leading to the individual name of a plant.

Mints belong to the Lamiaceae Family. Within that Family is a Genus, 'Mentha'. Narrowing things down to individual plants, you get the Species name, describing some particular feature of that plant which differentiates it from its relatives.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mentha
Binomial name
Mentha piperita (the 'x' indicates that it is a cross between two closely related plants - ie other mints - which is why seeds from it will not usually give you what you want, but will probably revert. Peppermint does not usually produce seeds at all, so all peppermint is 'vegetatively propagated' - usually by root division or layering.)

I've used an analogy for explaining botanical names in another post recently. Please read it.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/herbs/msg061624377094.html?3

If you're looking for Peppermint, you need to ask for Mentha piperita. The Genus it belongs to is Mentha (meaning 'mint'), and it's distinguishing feature is 'piperita' where in Latin, 'piper' means 'pepper', or 'pepper-flavoured'. Hence, Peppermint.

If you're looking for Spearmint (common or garden mint) you'd be looking for Mentha spicata. Again the Genus 'Mentha', then its distinguishing feature 'spicata', which means 'grows in spikes' - referring to the shape of the leaves.

There are almost 1000 different species of mint - ie plants in the Mentha Family in the same Genus, each with its own Species name.

In the same Family (Lamiaceae) is Lemon Balm, but it belongs to a different Genus (Melissa) and its own Species name 'officinalis', which means 'official' ie used medicinally and mentioned (or once mentioned) in the list of plants and medicines called a Pharmocopaea. So we have a close relative of the Menthas, called Melissa officinalis. Not a mint, but having many of the characteristics of the whole group of plants that mints belong to.

As for acquiring some Peppermint, I suggest you try to find a local gardening club, and beg, borrow or steal a cutting or two from a member who already has a peppermint plant. Gardeners are usually very friendly, and only too happy to share with each other. Don't be conned into buying peppermint seeds. You won't end up with peppermint! When ordering plants, it is very helpful to provide the full botanical (scientific, Latin) name.

If you've bought a plant with just 'Mentha species' on it, the nursery who supplied to the place you bought it is being totally irresponsible. It could be any one of the above-mentioned thousand closely-related plants! It's sheer laziness in the industry, and we should all be rioting in the streets about it, IMO!

Here is a link that might be useful: geneaology spearmint/peppermint

This is a LOT more than I ever wanted to know about mint. After seeing what Richters had as mint choices, it was apparent to me that mint isn't just a few types. Quite frankly I can do without any mint in any of my cooking and baking. I have a friend who hates it and says its all toothpaste to her.

Is it possible for you to post a picture?

I bought a "plug pack" (12 count of plants) of peppermint from Richters last year. Even after my mistreatment of the plants (letting them dry out, blah, blah, blah), the plants grew well for me. They are quite vigorous and happy this year. They have a nice smell and taste. I've always had good luck with Richters items but there seems to be some with experiences to the contrary - of course this is true for any merchant! :)

If you are looking for "true" peppermint be sure to get it from a place that identifies the plants(not seed, key for peppermint) with the botanical name and possibly variety name. I've seen few herbs mismarked as badly as those that are supposed to be peppermint.

FataMorgana

Thank you so much Daisy. You really know your stuff. I will try to find a place where i can at least get a cutting of some peppermint. I will post pictures of this other mint in the next day or two.