Description
Calamintha – Calamint –
There are about 8 species of aromatic, sometimes rhizomatous perennial, some woody based, in this genus. They occur in grassland, scrub, and woodland in Europe, Asia with 2 from the USA. On square stems they carry opposite, ovate to oblong, usually toothed leaves and bear loose terminal sprays or axillary cymes of tubular, 2 lipped flowers, mainly in shades of blue, purplish, but pink or white in some species. Grow Calamints in a border, or an open woodland garden. The flowers are attractive to bees. Leaves of several species are used in herbal medicine as well as being infused to make herbal teas.
Grow in moist but well drained soil in sun or partial shade, in a sheltered site. Divide in early spring.
Prone to powdery mildew.
C. nepeta – Lesser Calamint – This aromatic, slow growing, erect perennial from Southern and Central Europe, Northwestern Africa, Northern Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia and Western Asia grows 12-24″ tall and 20-30″ wide. It produces ovate, often shallowly toothed, hairy, dark green leaves, to ½” long. In summer it bears branched open sprays or cymes of 5 to 15 mauve, occasionally pinkish flowers, to 1/4″ long. Prefers well drained conditions in full sun.
Zones 4-9
