Common Name:

General Information

Satureja mutica is a subshrub with numerous, erect, woody stems that are strongly branched only at their base, it grows around 30 - 50 cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food flavouring.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western to central Asia - the Caucasus, northern Iran, Turkmenistan

Habitat

Dry stony slopes in the middle mountain zone[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus will generally tolerate winter temperatures occasionally falling as low as -10°c[].
Requires a sunny position, thriving in a range of dry to moist soils so long as they are well-drained. Dislikes wet soils and shade[].

Edible Uses

The plant yields around 0.53% of an agreeably scented essential oil that is used for flavouring food[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination can be slow and erratic[] but usually takes place within a month[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. It is usually possible to plant out into their permanent positions during the summer, but if the plants have not grown sufficiently, or if you live in an area of cold winters, it might be best to grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm taken at a node, mid summer in a frame. Pot up in autumn and overwinter in a frame, planting out in late spring or early summer of the following year. A high percentage usually succeed[].
Cuttings of young wood, preferably with a heel, mid spring in a frame[, ]. Plant out in the summer if the plants grow well, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year[].
Division in early spring as growth commences[, ]. This works best if soil has been mounded up into the bottom 20cm of the plant early in the previous summer[]. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established. Plant them out in the summer.