Mary Washington Asparagus vs Canada Mint - TreeTime.ca

Mary Washington Asparagus vs Canada Mint

Mentha canadensis

Asparagus officinalis Mary Washington

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Canada Mint
Mary Washington Asparagus

Canada Mint is a native perennial plant known for its fragrant edible leaves. It produces small white to purple flowers in clusters around the stem and is commonly found in wet areas, including ditches and along wetlands, lakes, and rivers. The leaves can be eaten fresh or used to make teas and essential oils.

Canada Mint can spread quickly through underground rhizomes, making it well-suited to naturalization and restoration projects where it can spread freely. In smaller urban yards or gardens, container planting is recommended to help manage its growth. If planted directly in the ground, regular care and maintenance may be needed to limit its spread.

The Mary Washington Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that produces edible shoots or spears that may be harvested in April-May. This plant is an heirloom which produces large green stalks that can be harvested earlier than other asparagus cultivars, and the spears feature a crisp, nutty flavor. There are male and female plants, and the females can grow into towering ferns after going to seed for the year.
The Mary Washington Asparagus gets its name from the mother of George Washington, who was married to the plant breeder Augustine Washington. For a more reliable asparagus crop, it is recommended that you don’t harvest in the first year and allow it to establish its root systems.

Canada Mint Quick Facts

Mary Washington Asparagus Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: spreading, colony forming
Spreading: rhizomes - high, seeds - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: aromatic, edible
Flowers: small, white to purple clusters along stem
Bloom time: mid summer to early fall
Firmness: firm
Flavor: nutty, crisp
Harvest: April-June
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Other Names: american wild mint