Spearmint (Mentha spicata, synonym Mentha viridis),also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint, is a species of mint native to the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey. It is naturalized in much of Europe and Asia (Middle East, Himalayas, China), in parts of northern and western Africa, North America, and South America, as well as various oceanic islands.Spearmint has two subspecies: Mentha spicata spicata (most of species range) and Mentha spicata condensata (Briq.) Greuter & Burdet (Mediterranean region, naturalized in New Zealand).