Chinese Mint Bo-He (Mentha haplocalyx)
Cooling Herbal Mint Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese Mint, also known as Bo-He, is a fragrant, fast-growing mint variety revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its cooling, clarifying properties. It’s widely used in herbal teas, tinctures, and remedies to support digestion, soothe headaches, relieve colds, and bring the body into balance.
With a bold, minty-sweet aroma and flavor, Bo-He is also perfect for culinary use—great in teas, summer drinks, salads, and sauces. The plant grows vigorously in full sun to part shade, spreading by underground rhizomes. Its purple-tinted stems and delicate lavender blooms attract pollinators while its foliage brings fresh energy to herb spirals, borders, and containers.
Why You'll Love It:
- Key cooling herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Soothes digestion, fevers, and headaches naturally
- Pungent mint flavor for teas, drinks, and sauces
- Attracts bees and butterflies with purple blooms
- Fast-growing, easy, and perfect for containers
Growing Tips:
- Plant in full sun to part shade in rich, moist soil
- Harvest leaves regularly to encourage fresh growth
- Contain in pots or raised beds to prevent spreading
- Pinch off flowers to keep plants leafy and lush
- Great companion plant—helps repel pests in veggie beds