We can trace the roots of fish mint all the way back to Southeast Asia. You can find this plant in abundance on the outskirts of Japan, China, and Korea. One thing that might surprise people is that despite having the word mint in its name, this plant does not belong to the mint family. However, the fish in fish mint surely does justice to the name as this plant smells like fish.
The question is, what makes this plant special? Let’s find out in this article.
The Growth of the Fish Mint
While this plant might not be part of the mint family, it grows like one. Those who grow these herbs know that it spreads like mint. This means that these plants spread sideways in abundance. You might have to be a bit careful, though; the fish mint might take over the garden!
The Infamous Flavor of Fish Mint
The leaves of fish mint are a rich green with crooked sides. When you squash these leave, they will produce a fishy smell, hence their name. However, their taste slightly differs from that of a fish.
These plants have a tangy taste to them, so you can easily use them in various dishes to add a tangy flavor and zest to your food!
If you are planning on adding flavor to your bland vegetable dish, sprinkle some fish mint on it; that will give your taste buds a proper jostling. You can also use it in salads and fish to enrich their taste.
The Medicinal Use of Fish Mint
Not only does this plant enhance the taste of a bland dish, but you can also get multiple medicinal uses out of this herb. Long before the medicinal industry progressed, people used to treat a host of diseases with this herb. Insect bites were untreatable back then.
The only thing that could cure an insect bite was fish mint.
Moreover, medical specialists in ancient history used to make great use out of this herb, due to its healing properties. Persisting fever, digestive issues, kidney ailments, and even influenza are some of the diseases that can be cured by making use of this plant.
Requirements to Grow Fish Mint
If you have a spacious garden outside your home, you can easily grow this plant there and take advantage of this ever-so-useful plant. The only thing that you need to be mindful of is providing it with ample water. The wetter they are, the faster they will grow. In addition to that, they thrive under direct exposure to the sun.
However, you can also place them under partial shade; that should suffice.
This plant can grow up to two to three feet in height. As mentioned above, these plants have a fierce growth sideways; therefore, you need to plant them in a spacious garden so that they don’t take over the entire area.
In Conclusion
Fish mint is a beautiful, bright green plant having many uses that might surprise you. These plants also go by the names of Chameleon plant, Rainbow plant, Fish Leaf, Fish Wort, Chinese’s Lizard Tale, and Bishop’s Weed.
You can plant them in your garden and once they start to grow, get ample use out of them.
Want to read about some more weird flowers? Have a look at this article.
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