(a plant with its roots)
Deer Mint (Preslia cervina): the aromatic freshness of our banks
Deer Mint (Preslia cervina) is a fascinating and highly original waterside plant. Native to Europe, it releases a wonderfully pleasant minty fragrance as soon as its emerged foliage is brushed against.
Highly versatile, it thrives with its "feet in the water" along the edge of a pond or in a paludarium, where it produces magnificent summer blooms of small lilac pom-poms. When immersed in an aquarium, it develops fine, graceful stems while actively helping purify the water. A true gem for natural ecosystems!
Why choose Deer Mint?
- 🌿 An enchanting fragrance: out of the water, its foliage releases delicious notes of sweet mint.
- 🛡️ Hardy and dependable: as a native plant, it handles our outdoor winters perfectly well.
- 🦐 A haven for microfauna: its immersed stems are an excellent grazing surface for your water lice and snails.
- 🌸 Spectacular flowering: in ponds or tub ponds, its tiered flowers attract pollinators all summer long.
Planting and growing tips
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Light: moderate to high. It loves sunlight outdoors and good aquarium lighting to prevent it from becoming leggy.
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Soil and nutrition: inert soil such as sand is sufficient. It draws its nutrients from the water while helping purify it.
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Maintenance: trim the stems if they become too long. You can propagate the cut tops to create a new clump.
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Temperature: 2 to 28°C. It is perfect for unheated tanks and spends the winter outdoors without a problem.
⭐ Tip: gently crush a small emerged leaf between your fingers while caring for your paludarium or pond—the scent is a true natural delight!
Possible uses
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Pond and pool: along the banks or in a few centimeters of water, it reinforces the edges and provides highly decorative blooms. Above all, its flowering attracts pollinators and supports the ecosystem's biodiversity.
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Low-tech aquarium: placed in the midground or background, it adds a touch of fine, elegant verticality.
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Paludarium and tub pond: an excellent water-to-land transition plant, it grows luxuriantly there.
FAQ - Deer Mint (Preslia cervina)
Can it be planted underwater?
Yes, it adapts to fully submerged life, although its natural tendency is to reach the surface and flower in the open air.
Does it need CO2?
No, adding gas is unnecessary. Nature does an excellent job on its own in a well-balanced ecosystem.
Is it susceptible to frost in winter?
Not at all. Its aerial parts will disappear in the cold, but the root system will overwinter and produce new shoots the following spring.
Additional information
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Scientific name: Preslia cervina (or Mentha cervina)
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Origin: Europe and the Mediterranean Basin
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Plant type: aromatic amphibious plant
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Light: moderate to high
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Temperature: 2 to 28°C (the base survives frost perfectly well)
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Height: 15 to 40 cm (depending on size and environment)
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Packaging: a plant with its roots
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Guarantee: free of rock wool and any artificial substrate of any kind.
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Recommendation: as a precaution, please never release this plant into the wild. Our wild aquatic ecosystems are precious and fragile.
