Swā se ōðer nama wæterminte tācnaþ, findeþ man wætermintan in þǣm scealdum margins and channels of streams, rivers, pools, dykes, ditches, canals, wet meadows, marshes and fens. If the plant grows in the water itself, it rises above the surface of the water. It generally occurs on mildly acid to calcareous (it is common on soft limestone) mineral or peaty soils.