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The Penny Royal Plant: A Complete Guide and Care Tips
Gardening can be a therapeutic activity that is both rewarding and fulfilling.
One plant that should find its way into your garden is the penny royal plant.
The penny royal botanical name is Mentha pulegium, and it belongs to the mint family.
What Is Penny Royal Plant?
The penny royal plant, also known as pudding grass, mosquito plant or tickweed, has been in use since ancient times.
It was used for culinary purposes as well as medicinal purposes by the Greeks and Romans.
Where To Grow The Penny Royal Plant
The penny royal plant thrives well in moist soils with good drainage.
It’s ideal to grow this herb in a location with partial shade since it prefers cooler temperatures than most other herbs.
This makes planting it near water sources like streams or ponds an excellent idea.
- Pennyroyal plants prefer slightly acidic soil pH between 6-7
- They require moderate watering during summer but over-watering may cause root rot
- Avoid planting them where pets or children can access them easily due to their toxicity
Uses of Penny Royal Plant in Your Garden
The penny royal herb has numerous benefits which include:
- Mosquito repellent – Pennyroyal oil extracted from this herb acts as an effective insect repellent against mosquitoes and fleas.
- Culinary uses – Some people have used it for tea flavors while others use fresh leaves of these herbs for cooking meat dishes.
- Pest control – When planted around your garden beds, they help naturally deter pests like ants, ticks and fleas.
- Medicinal uses – When applied topically or ingested, penny royal herb can help alleviate digestive issues and act as a natural remedy for menstrual cramps.
How to Care for the Penny Royal Plant
Caring for the penny royal herb is easy when you follow these tips:
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not wet, since over-watering may lead to root rot.
- Fertilization: This plant thrives in nutrient-rich soil so apply organic fertilizer during planting times and after harvest seasons.
- Pruning : Trim back leaves regularly to prevent overcrowding which will encourage healthy growth..
- Pests & Diseases : The pennyroyal plant has few pest problems but be watchful of spider mites and aphids that might attack it .
Weed your garden frequently to remove any competing plants that could harbor pests or diseases.
- Harvesting: Harvest leaves when they’re young for optimal flavor & maximum yield every 6-8 weeks.
You can also dry them by spreading them out on a flat surface in a cool dry place until crispy then store in an air-tight container..
Penny Royal Plant Toxicity
Ingestion of large amounts of penny royals can be toxic therefore It’s important to keep pets away from these herbs as well as children who might accidentally ingest them while playing outside.
The Bottom Line
To sum it up, the penny royal plant is an herb with several benefits including mosquito repellent properties, culinary applications and medicinal purposes such as treating cramps.
Proper care such as consistent watering , pruning and maintaining a pest-free environment are essential for ensuring healthy growth.
So, the next time you’re in your garden, consider planting pennyroyals to enjoy these benefits.
