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Indian Mint

16 years ago

Has anyone ever had a plant of this before? I was lucky enough to pick one up at a local plant swap this past Saturday. It'ss beautiful & smells awesome! I was just wondering about propagating(sp?) it and also about uses for it. Any & all input appreciated. Thanks! - Steve

Comments (11)

  • 16 years ago

    I do not know the botanical name for it, but here's a pic. =)

    - Steve

  • 16 years ago

    Coleus/Plectranthus amboinicus: Cuban oregano, Mother of herbs, Vicks plant...
    Not sure if the orginal postings are still around so to list a few uses: as oregano in stews etc; pounded with lime juice and applied to the temples for headache-relief; a tea (with or without lime juice) can act as a laxative in case of stomach pains - but don't let this stop you using is for flavouring!
    Propagation is easy (cuttings strike readily in the warmer weather), but beware that this is a "tropical" plant and doesn't like cold, wet winters. I have mine in a hanging basket.

  • 16 years ago

    It's a Plectranthus all right, but Vicks Plant and Mother of Herbs are 2 different species. Mother of Herbs is P.amboinicus, aka Coleus amboinicus (Cuban Oregano, Queen of Herbs, Five in One Herb, Five Seasons Herb, Allherb, Country Borage, Indian Borage, Five Spice Herb, Chinese Three in One, Broad Leafed Thyme, Spanish Thyme, Spanish Sage, Puerto Rican Oregano, etc), while Vicks Plant is P.tomentosa, which doesn't taste nice at all!

    Mother of Herbs is the herb to use when you don't know what herb to use! Use in the same ways as Oregano in Mediterranean dishes and stews, with tomatoes and capsicum.

    Use an infusion of the leaves as a hair rinse to treat dandruff or in the laundry as a final rinse. The leaf tea can be taken for bronchitis, asthma, coughs, viral conditions, to relieve indigestion and stomach cramps, convulsions, as a liver tonic, for insomnia, and for pain relief. Pulped leaves will relieve the pain of scorpion or centipede bites and stings. Chew leaves to relieve sore throat and coughs.

    It likes a bit of room to move - is more of a groundcover, so won't be happy in a small pot for long. In fact, in the right conditions, it might want to take over, but it's easily pulled up. Prefers dry-ish conditions, warmth and full sun. It doesn't mind a bit of humidity. Doesn't tolerate the cold very well. Otherwise, as tough as old nails! I've seen the flower stalks reach nearly a metre long.

    Your specimen isn't too happy. It's a bit leggy, so it needs more sunlight - REAL sunlight, not the filtered light you get through a glass window.

  • 16 years ago

    Just for clarification, the previous owner (friend at a swap), told me it is a Plectranthus amboinicus variegata.

  • 11 years ago

    Indian mint is satureja douglasi


  • 11 years ago

    That is the problem with common names. The name "Indian mint" can apply to more than one species. The plant talked about in this ancient thread was Plectranthus amboinicus - see the image above. So no, Satureja douglasi was not the species of "Indian mint" referred to in this post.

    FataMorgana

  • 6 years ago

    Agreed, it is satureja douglasi

  • 6 years ago

    the one in the pic may not be satureja douglasi. Satureja Douglasi is Indian mint. Am I right?

  • 6 years ago

    I believe this is Indian mint (satureja douglasi)

  • 6 years ago

    The original plant asked about almost 10 years ago was Plectranthus amboinicus variegata and that was confirmed by the OP. See the photo they shared.