The African Potato Mint plant is actually a pretty rare and very unique root plant. This particular plant is capable of growing in pretty much any conditions as long as they provide proper heat. If you are looking for a plant that is edible and easy to take care of then the African Potato Mint plant might just be perfect for you. Here is everything you need to know about African Potato Mint care and how to thoroughly look after the plant.
| Botanical Name | Plectranthus esculentus |
| Common Name | African potato |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Flower Color | Not applicable as the African Potato Mint does not produce flowers |
| Size When Mature | Approximately 36 inches |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Sun Requirements | Prefers full exposure to the sunlight but can tolerate partial shade |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 9 to 11 |
| Soil PH Range | 6.5 to 7.0 |
| Soil Type | Rich and well draining |
| Water Needs | Medium |
| Native Area | Africa and India |
What you Need to Know About African Potato Mint
The African Potato Mint is a really hardy and pretty fast growing plant that functions well as a ground cover for areas that are more prone to droughts. In addition to this, as is suggested by its name, the African Potato Mint is actually capable of growing edible tubers that resemble potatoes.
How to Care for African Potato Mint
Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving African Potato Mint plant.
Light
The African Potato Mint plant usually prefers full exposure to the sunlight but it is perfectly capable of tolerating and thriving in partial shade as well. That being said, it may sometimes actually prefer partial shade if you are going through a particularly sunny and hot period of time.
Water and Soil Needs
The African Potato Mint plant grows best when it is provided with a rich and well draining soil that is in no danger of becoming waterlogged. In addition to this, this particular piece of greenery requires a pretty neutral soil pH range that varies from approximately 6.5 to 7.0.
Moreover, the African Potato Mint plant has pretty medium and overall watering needs. It is recommended that you provide it with a thorough watering once a week, more if you are experiencing a particularly harsh drought.
Temperature Requirements
The African Potato Mint plant is capable of surviving and thriving well in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. Overall, African Potato Mint is capable of tolerating pretty heavy droughts and periods of heat. On the other hand, this plant cannot survive in frost and is not capable of tolerating colder temperatures whatsoever.
Fertilizer
The best fertilizer to use on the African Potato Mint is nothing! That’s right, one of the best things about this particular plant is the fact that it is self-fertilizing! That means that it does not require any additional nutrients and can sometimes actually be used as a fertilizer itself.
Common Diseases
The African Potato Mint plant is actually very resistant to any and all types of diseases so there are no diseases that are commonly likely to affect, harm or possibly kill it.
African Potato Mint Propagation
The African Potato Mint is incredibly easy to propagate. All you have to do in order to complete this process successfully is break or clip off healthy parts of your fully grown and matured African Potato Mint plant. Afterwards, simply plant them in their desirable soil and continue to look after them as mentioned above.
African Potato Mint Care – final thoughts:
Overall, the African Potato Mint plant takes a pretty minimal amount of care in order to continue to thrive and flourish. It has pretty basic water and soil requirements but is a bit more particular about the temperature in which it grows.