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[].

Common Name: Lesser Calamint

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[].
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

,

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[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are hardy to about -15°c[].
Prefers a well-drained dry to moist neutral to alkaline soil and a warm sunny position[, ]. Easily grown in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun[]. Prefers evenly moist soils, but tolerates some drought[].
Shear or cut back plants after flowering to tidy the planting, to remove unsightly foliage and/or to prevent any unwanted self-seeding[].
The plant is very fragrant when crushed[].
A very good bee plant[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - used as a flavouring. They have a strong pennyroyal-like fragrance and are more pungent than calamint (Clinopodium menthifolium)[].
A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

Lesser calamint was commonly used as a medicinal herb in medieval times, though is little used by modern herbalists[].
The whole plant is aromatic, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic[, ]. An infusion is beneficial in cases of flatulent colic and weaknesses of the stomach[], it is also used to treat depression, insomnia and painful menstruation[].
The plant should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause a miscarriage[].
The leaves are harvested in July as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[]

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[]. It makes an excellent edging plant for walks, patios or herb gardens[].

Other Uses

The leaves can be used in pot-pourris[].

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.