How to Plant Pennyroyals

Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. It has a long history of being used for both culinary and medicinal uses. The oil of pennyroyal is quite toxic and caution needs to be used when deciding to use pennyroyal as anything other than a garden ornamental. It has also been shown that pennyroyal repels fleas. Do not plant pennyroyal in an area where you pets can eat it if they are prone to eating plant life. Growing pennyroyal is easy as it will grow in most soil mediums without any problem.

Things You'll Need

• Pennyroyal Seeds or Plants

Instructions

Tips on Planting Pennyroyal

1. Plant pennyroyal seeds in the area you desire the plants to live. Sow your seeds approximately ¼ inch into the ground. Do this once it is warm outside. Keep the area moist until the seeds begin to sprout. You can then water regularly until the plants are fully established.

2. Choose healthy pennyroyal plants from your nursery to plant. It is a hardy plant and will usually reseed itself the following year in the area it was planted.

3. Select an area in your yard that gets sunlight and is big enough to house the plants once they start growing. Pennyroyal is a creeper and will more than likely have to be trimmed back during its growing season.

4. Dig a hole that is twice as big as the pot that contains the pennyroyal. By loosening the soil in the area where the plant will be planted, the roots will have a better chance of spreading out.

5. Loosen the roots of your pennyroyal plant before placing in the ground. Place you plant in the hole you have dug and then place the dirt back around it, filling in any gaps in the soil and getting rid of any air pockets.

6. Water your pennyroyal plants regularly until they have established themselves. Pennyroyal is quite drought tolerant once established and won't need constant tending to. Fertilization isn't necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Pennyroyal makes a good plant to grow in containers in a sunny location.

• Pennyroyal can cause contact dermatitis in some people who handle it. This herb should be avoided by women who are pregnant.

References

• Information on Pennyroyal
• Portrait of Pennyroyal