Other Names:  Peppermint Willow, Willow Myrtle

Description:

A truly handsome tree with drooping, willow like, green foliage on arching branches; clusters of white flowers in spring; makes a wonderful accent tree, or screen

Ornamental Features

Peppermint Tree is bathed in stunning clusters of white flowers with pink centers at the ends of the branches from mid spring to mid summer. It has green evergreen foliage. The narrow leaves remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Peppermint Tree is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Peppermint Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Peppermint Tree will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Peppermint Tree is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.