Mint
Mentha sp. (Lamiaceae)
Also called Garden Mint.
Cats and dogs
Toxic to cats and dogs
Cats: toxic Dogs: toxic
What makes it toxic: Essential Oils.
Signs to watch for: Vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions
Source: ASPCA entry "Mint", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol
- Bright indirect 10+ mol Copes
- Direct sun 12+ mol Best
Mint grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. To keep harvesting through winter, RHS suggests bringing potted mint indoors to a sunny windowsill.
Direct sun: needs several hours a day.
On our scale it grows well from about 12 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 2.2 (how these numbers are set).
Care
Care level: Easy. Water: Keep the soil evenly moist; mint does poorly in dry soil and pots need regular watering in dry spells.
Spreads rapidly by rhizomes, so it is best grown in its own container (NC State, RHS).
Pet-safe plants for similar light
- Burro's tail direct sun
- Echeveria (hens and chickens) direct sun
- Ponytail palm direct sun
- Venus flytrap direct sun
- Areca palm bright indirect light
- Basil direct sun
Sources
- Toxicity: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, "Mint"
- Light and care: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, "Mentha spicata"
- Light and care: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), "How to grow Mint"
- Light and care: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, "Mint"