Pineapple Mint

Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'

herb

Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens Variegata) is the variegated cream-and-green apple mint with a sweet pineapple-fruit aroma instead of the usual mint sharpness. The fuzzy round leaves are striking in the garden and pleasant to brush against, and the mild fruity flavor is perfect for fruit salads, dessert garnishes, and herbal teas where you want mint without menthol bite.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Tomatoes — Mint may help repel aphids when grown in pots nearby
• Cabbage — Mint repels cabbage moths
• Strawberries — Fruit-scented foliage pairs ornamentally
• Beans — Mint may discourage bean beetles

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Rust →

  Site for airflow; remove infected leaves

• Spider mites →

  Mist foliage in dry weather

• Aphids →

  Blast with water

• Spreading runners

  Container only; never plant directly in the garden

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest leaves any time the plant is growing. The pineapple-fruit aroma is mild and best enjoyed fresh; dried leaves lose much of the fruity character. Use fresh in fruit salads, summer drinks, melon salads, and herbal teas. The variegated leaves make beautiful garnishes for desserts and cocktails. Cut whole sprigs for vase use or as a fragrant table arrangement.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Culinary and pollinator value: Pineapple Mint flowers in late summer attract bees and beneficial insects to the herb garden. The sweet, fruity essential oils, low in the sharp menthol of true mints, make a uniquely pleasant herbal tea, traditionally used as a mild stomach soother and breath freshener.