Common Name: Calamint

General Information

Clinopodium menthifolium is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from a creeping rhizome. The plant forms a carpet of foliage with erect, little-branched flowering stems 30 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild, and also cultivated in gardens, for use as a medicinal and culinary herb.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Western Europe, including Britain, from France and W. Germany south to Spain, Algeria and N. Syria.

Habitat

Dry grassy banks, usually on calcareous soils, from southern Britain north to Durham and Yorkshire[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.45 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a well-drained dry to moist neutral to alkaline soil and a sunny position[]. Likes semi-shade[].
Succeeds in a woodland garden[].
Bees love the flowers of this plant[].

Edible Uses

A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the leaves[]. Very refreshing[, ].
Leaves - used as a flavouring in cooked dishes[]. Pleasantly pungent and strongly aromatic, the flavour is said to resemble a cross between mint and marjoram[].

Medicinal

Calamint was commonly used as a medicinal herb in medieval times, though is little used by modern herbalists[]. It has very similar properties to lesser calamint (Clinopodium nepeta) though is milder in its actions[].
The whole plant is aromatic, diaphoretic and expectorant[]. The leaves are harvested in July as the plant comes into flower and are dried for storage[]. An infusion is beneficial in cases of fevers, flatulent colic and weaknesses of the stomach[], it is also used to treat depression, insomnia and painful menstruation[]. Its expectorant action makes it a good cough and cold remedy and it is of value for treating mild respiratory infections[]. It is best mixed with other herbs, especially yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)[].
Calamint should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause a miscarriage[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. It usually germinates in 2 weeks at 21°c[]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and, if they grow sufficiently, plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer otherwise wait until the following spring.
Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be planted direct into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are well rooted before planting them out in the summer.
Basal cuttings in May or early summer. They should be rooted in a sandy compost[]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.