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🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🌿 Costa Rican Mint (Satureja viminea / Clinopodium vimineum) – Rare, Fragrant & Useful 🌱
The aromatic treasure of the tropics — a culinary, medicinal, and ornamental gem.
Brighten your garden and your kitchen with this aromatic Caribbean evergreen. Costa Rican Mint (also called Jamaican Mint Tree) brings a savory-minty punch to teas, broths, and marinades, while its glossy foliage and tiny white blooms charm pollinators. Grow it as a compact hedge, a patio specimen, or a container accent you can snip for fresh flavor all year.
Note on naming: The accepted botanical name is Clinopodium vimineum (syn. Satureja viminea). Native to the Caribbean and cultivated throughout Central America, including Costa Rica.
🌿 Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Clinopodium vimineum (syn. Satureja viminea) |
| Plant Type | Perennial shrub / small tree (evergreen in frost-free areas) |
| Size at Sale | 1-gallon container |
| Mature Height & Width | 5–10 ft tall, 3–6 ft wide (easily kept 3–5 ft with pruning) |
| USDA Zones | 9–11 (best growth outdoors in 10–11) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to part shade |
| Cold Hardiness | Tender below 30°F — protect during frost |
| Growth Habit | Upright, multi-stemmed, bushy |
| Spacing Requirements | 4–6 ft apart in hedges or mixed borders |
🍃 Flavor Profile & Culinary Uses
Leaves have a minty, resinous, savory aroma — like a cross between mint and oregano. Use sparingly until you know your preferred flavor strength.
Best Uses:
- 🍵 Teas & Infusions: Traditional “bush mint” tea for digestion and relaxation
- 🥣 Soups & Stews: Adds aromatic depth to beans and broths
- 🥗 Salads & Fresh Dishes: Chopped leaves for bold herbal kick
- 🥩 Marinades & Rubs: Mix with garlic, onion & citrus for meats and veggies
🍵 Featured Recipe: Traditional Jamaican Mint Tea
This is the #1 most popular use for Costa Rican Mint — a soothing herbal tea enjoyed throughout the Caribbean for centuries.
🌿 Ingredients:
- 4–5 fresh Costa Rican Mint leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 cups boiling water
- Optional: raw honey, lime, or a slice of ginger for added flavor
🔥 Directions:
- Rinse the leaves and lightly crush them to release natural oils.
- Pour boiling water over the leaves.
- Cover and steep for 5–7 minutes (longer for stronger flavor).
- Strain, sweeten with honey if desired, and serve hot or chilled.
🌸 Flavor Profile:
The tea has a smooth, herbal-minty flavor with subtle spice and warmth — similar to a cross between spearmint and thyme.
Perfect for soothing digestion, easing tension, and refreshing the senses.
(Traditional preparation for cultural and educational purposes only.)
🌱 Traditional & Medicinal Significance (Informational)
Rooted in Caribbean and Central American folk medicine, Costa Rican Mint has been brewed for centuries as a tea for stomach upset, bloating, and circulation support.
Folk traditions also reference anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial uses.
(For informational purposes only; not intended as medical advice.)
🌼 Ornamental & Landscape Appeal
- 🌿 Fragrant Evergreen: Glossy leaves release refreshing aroma when brushed
- 🐝 Pollinator Magnet: Tiny white flowers attract bees and butterflies
- 🌳 Landscape Versatility: Excellent for borders, trimmed hedges, or fragrant patio containers
🧑🌾 How to Plant & Care (Florida & Similar Climates)
🌞 Where to Plant
- Full sun to part shade — brighter light = stronger fragrance
- Prefers rich, well-drained soil (adapts well to sandy or loamy ground)
- Avoid areas with standing water
🌱 Planting Method
- Dig a hole just wider than the pot and equal in depth
- Backfill with a blend of compost and native soil
- Keep the plant’s base at or slightly above soil level
- Mulch around (but not touching) the trunk
- Learn more with our High & Tight Planting Video
💧 Watering
- Water daily for the first 1–2 weeks after planting
- Then reduce to 2–3 times per week for the first month
- Once established, water weekly; increase frequency during drought
- In containers, water when top 1–2" of soil feels dry
✂️ Pruning & Fertilizing
- Light pruning encourages bushy growth and shape control
- Prune tips regularly to promote branching
- Feed organically during the growing season with compost or mild fertilizer
❄️ Seasonal Notes (Florida & Gulf Regions)
- Sensitive to temperatures below 30°F — protect with frost cloth
- May drop some leaves after cold snaps but rebounds in spring
- Stays evergreen in tropical zones
🪴 Container & Indoor Growing Tips
- Thrives in 3–5 gallon pots; size up to 10–15 gallons for a patio tree
- Position in full sun outdoors or bright indoor light
- Suitable for overwintering indoors in cool climates
- Regular pruning keeps it compact and lush
🌿 Companion & Support Guild Ideas
Best companions for healthy, resilient growth:
- 🌻 Biomass / Chop-and-Drop: Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)
- 🌾 Nitrogen Fixer: Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
- 🌸 Pollinators: Firebush (Hamelia patens), Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
- 🌱 Silica Source: Horsetail Reed (Equisetum hyemale)
Perfect for pairing with other culinary herbs like rosemary, oregano, and African blue basil.
🌟 Top Benefits of Costa Rican Mint
- Fragrant evergreen foliage year-round
- Culinary versatility with a distinct tropical flavor
- Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
- Low maintenance and container adaptable
- Cultural heritage plant with rich tradition in herbal tea blends
🧩 Troubleshooting Guide
| Issue | Cause & Solution |
|---|---|
| Leggy growth | Increase sunlight; pinch tips to encourage branching |
| Yellowing leaves after cold | Temporary cold stress — prune lightly & wait for spring rebound |
| Wilting despite moisture | Check drainage; roots may be waterlogged |
| Slow growth in containers | Gradually upsize pot & refresh potting mix annually |
| Weak aroma | Needs more sun or trimming to stimulate new, fragrant shoots |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Costa Rican Mint the same as common garden mint?
No — it’s a woody perennial with a sharper, resinous aroma closer to mint-oregano.
Q: How cold-hardy is it?
It struggles below 30°F; protect with frost cloth or overwinter indoors.
Q: Can I grow it in a container?
Yes! It thrives in well-drained containers with full sun and regular pruning.
Q: Is it evergreen?
Yes — in zones 9–11 it stays evergreen; it may partially defoliate after frost.
Q: Does it attract pollinators?
Absolutely — bees and butterflies love its dainty white blooms.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal for:
- Gardeners in USDA Zones 9–11
- Tea & herbal enthusiasts
- Culinary gardeners & permaculture growers
- Pollinator-friendly landscapes
- Container gardeners in subtropical climates
❌ Not ideal for:
- Growers in cold zones without indoor space
- Those seeking zero-maintenance plants
🚚 Shipping & Handling
- Ships in a 1-gallon container
- Best suited for shipping to Florida, Southeastern US, and Texas
- We ship nationwide, but plants sent to colder or drier climates may arrive stressed and require recovery time
- Buyer discretion advised during peak heat or cold seasons
- Shipped every Monday via UPS Ground from Florida
- We are not responsible for temperature-related damage during transit
📍 Local Pickup
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
🕒 Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
🌿 Come see what’s fresh at our retail nursery!
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
At GreenDreams, we do more than grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.
- 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
- 🌾 Installation & garden creation services
- 🚚 Bulk delivery of compost, biochar & soil materials
- 🌱 Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions
Let our team help you create your own thriving edible paradise — starting with Costa Rican Mint! 🌿
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
