Sure, this herb will take over your yard in no time flat. But given the plant's wonderful attributes, is that such a bad thing? he lowly herb spearmint (Mentha spicata), the gardener's standby, often gets passed over as we brag about our five different varieties of thyme or our lush stands of proud coneflowers. Harder to kill than grow in even ridiculously poor conditions, the herb that absolutely anyone can cultivate has a historical dance card that rivals that of lavender—and even the divine rosemary. So many botanical texts over the centuries have referenced and prescribed spearmint that its addition to the garden might seem trite. But who can resist a plant with such a rich past? The tenacious, creeping M spicata has wormed its way into the gardens of nearly every country on earth. Like a determined extra on a movie set, it has managed to slip into the making of history's greatest moments.
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