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Useful Temperate Plants

Clinopodium nepeta

(L.) Kuntze

Lamiaceae


This species is very closely related to Clinopodium sylvatica, and has been considered in the past to be no more than a sub-species by some botanists[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
].

+ Synonyms

Acinos transsilvanica Schur

Calamintha acinifolia Sennen

Calamintha adscendens Willk. & Lange

Calamintha alboi Sennen

Calamintha athonica Rchb.

Calamintha baetica Boiss. & Reut.

Calamintha barolesii Sennen

Calamintha bonanovae Sennen

Calamintha bonanovae Sennen & Pau

Calamintha brevisepala Sennen

Calamintha byzantina K.Koch

Calamintha caballeroi Sennen & Pau

Calamintha cacuminiglabra Sennen

Calamintha calamintha (L.) H.Karst.

Calamintha canescens J.Presl

Calamintha cantabrica Sennen & Elias

Calamintha dilatata Schrad.

Calamintha dufourii Sennen

Calamintha enriquei Sennen & Pau

Calamintha eriocaulis Sennen

Calamintha ferreri Sennen

Calamintha gillesii Sennen

Calamintha glandulosa (Req.) Benth.

Calamintha guillesii Sennen

Calamintha heterotricha Boiss. & Reut.

Calamintha josephi Sennen

Calamintha largiflora Klokov

Calamintha litardierei Sennen

Calamintha longiracemosa Sennen

Calamintha macra Klokov

Calamintha menthifolia adscendens (Willk. & Lange) Nyman

Calamintha menthifolia baetica (Boiss. & Reut.) Ball

Calamintha mollis Jord. ex Lamotte

Calamintha montana Lam.

Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi

Calamintha nepeta Willk.

Calamintha nepetoides Jord.

Calamintha obliqua Host

Calamintha officinalis Moench

Calamintha officinalis nepeta (L.) Rchb. & Rchb.f.

Calamintha parviflora Lam.

Calamintha pauciflora Lange

Calamintha peniciliata Sennen

Calamintha rotundifolia Host

Calamintha sennenii Cadevall

Calamintha spruneri Boiss.

Calamintha stricta Rchb.f.

Calamintha suavis Sennen

Calamintha sylvatica villosissima (Benth.) Silic

Calamintha thessala Hausskn.

Calamintha transsilvanica (Jáv.) Soó

Calamintha trichotoma Moench

Calamintha vulgaris Clairv.

Calamintha vulgaris Garsault

Clinopodium calamintha (L.) Kuntze

Clinopodium glandulosum (Req.) Kuntze

Clinopodium heterotrichum (Boiss. & Reut.) Govaerts

Faucibarba parviflora Dulac

Melissa aetheos Benth.

Melissa calamintha L.

Melissa glandulosa (Req.) Benth.

Melissa glomerata Stokes

Melissa montana (Lam.) Bubani

Melissa nepeta L.

Melissa obtusifolia Pers.

Melissa parviflora Salisb.

Melissa rotundifolia Sol. ex Lowe

Micromeria byzantina Walp.

Micromeria canescens Walp.

Nepeta intermedia Lej. ex Rchb.

Satureja baetica (Boiss. & Reut.) Pau

Satureja brauneana transsilvanica Jáv.

Satureja calamintha (L.) Scheele

Satureja calamintha mollis (Jord. ex Lamotte) Briq.

Satureja calamintha nepeta (L.) Briq.

Satureja calamintha nepetoides (Jord.) Briq.

Satureja glandulosa (Req.) Caruel

Satureja heterotricha (Boiss. & Reut.) Pau

Satureja menthifolia baetica (Boiss. & Reut.) Font Quer

Satureja mollis (Jord. ex Lamotte) E.Perrier

Satureja nepeta (L.) Scheele

Satureja nepetoides (Jord.) Fritsch

Satureja villosa (Boiss.) Druce

Satureja vulgaris Rouy

Thymus athonicus Bernh. ex Rchb.

Thymus calamintha (L.) Scop.

Thymus calaminthoides Rchb.

Thymus clandestinus Salzm. ex Mutel

Thymus glandulosus Req.

Thymus minor Trevir.

Thymus moschatella Pollini

Thymus nepeta (L.) Sm.

Common Name: Lesser Calamint

No Image.

General Information

Clinopodium nepeta is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It forms a spreading mat of low-growing foliage with upright leafy flowering stems 30 - 45cm tall[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild, and also cultivated in gardens, for use as a medicinal and culinary herb. It can be grown as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Europe - Britain to Spain, east to Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria; W. Asia - Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

Habitat

Dry banks, usually on calcareous soils[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Plants are hardy to about -15°c[
187
Title
Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1991
ISBN
0-330-30936-9
Description
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
].
Prefers a well-drained dry to moist neutral to alkaline soil and a warm sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. Easily grown in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. Prefers evenly moist soils, but tolerates some drought[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
Shear or cut back plants after flowering to tidy the planting, to remove unsightly foliage and/or to prevent any unwanted self-seeding[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
The plant is very fragrant when crushed[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
A very good bee plant[
187
Title
Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1991
ISBN
0-330-30936-9
Description
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - used as a flavouring. They have a strong pennyroyal-like fragrance and are more pungent than calamint (Clinopodium menthifolium)[
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].
A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the leaves[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Medicinal

Lesser calamint was commonly used as a medicinal herb in medieval times, though is little used by modern herbalists[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The whole plant is aromatic, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
,
148
Title
Herbs of Greece.
Publication
 
Author
Niebuhr. A. D.
Publisher
Herb Society of America.
Year
1970
ISBN
-
Description
A pleasant little book about Greek herbs.
]. An infusion is beneficial in cases of flatulent colic and weaknesses of the stomach[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
], it is also used to treat depression, insomnia and painful menstruation[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The plant should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause a miscarriage[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The leaves are harvested in July as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant may spread in the garden by means of rhizomes and/or self-seeding to form an interesting ground cover in a sunny position[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. It makes an excellent edging plant for walks, patios or herb gardens[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].

Other Uses

The leaves can be used in pot-pourris[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. It usually germinates in 2 weeks at 21°c[
138
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 3.
Publication
 
Author
Bird. R. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1989
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
]. 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[
245
Title
Scented Flora of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Genders. R.
Publisher
Robert Hale. London.
Year
1994
ISBN
0-7090-5440-8
Description
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
]. 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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Clinopodium+nepeta>

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