Potential Essential Oil Crops for Southeastern US

In 2006-2009, several field experiments were conducted in Mississippi to evaluate essential oil crops for commercial production in the region. These crops included peppermint (Mentha X piperita L.), Native spearmint (Mentha spicata L.), Scotch spearmint (Mentha X gracilis Sole.), Japanese cornmint (Mentha canadensis L.), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Nees ex. Steud.), lavender (Lavandula vera D.C.), summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.), winter savory (Satureja montana L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.), garden sage (Salvia officinalis L.), Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) and few others. Fertilizer studies were conducted on peppermint, Native and Scotch spearmint, Japanese cornmint, sweet basil, and lemon grass, providing information on fertilization of these crops in the region. In addition, a number of varieties and accessions from peppermint, sweet basil, summer savory, oregano, and wild bergamot were evaluated for their adaptability to the environmental conditions of the region. Essential oil profiles of peppermint, Scotch and Native spearmints, Japanese cornmint, sweet basil, holy basil, lemon grass, lavender, savory, and wild bergamot have been analyzed for these crops grown under Mississippi climate and compared to the respective essential oils produced in other countries or regions. This oral presentation will summarize the major findings. Our 4-year field experiments and analytical studies indicated the above plant species have commercial potential as essential oil crops for Mississippi and possibly southeastern US.