Common Name:

General Information

Clinopodium graveolens is a hairy annual plant, occasionally a short-lived perennial, with spreading stems that are branched at the base. It can sometimes grow up to 40cm tall, but is usually smaller[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It has occasionally been grown in the herb garden as a substitute for Satureja hortensis[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Europe from Spain east through Asia to Afghanistan; N. Africa - Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia

Habitat

Dry stony and grassy habitats, cultivated and waste land, field margins.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in almost any well-drained soil, doing well in a hot dry soil[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a flavouring with beans etc, and are said to be a substitute for summer savoury, Satureia hortensis[], though we prefer that species[].

Medicinal

The plant is aphrodisiac, stimulant[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. If you have sufficient seed then you could try sowing in situ in mid to late spring. Germination should take place within a month. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.