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Lesser Calamint Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Lesser Calamint

Clinopodium nepeta

Refreshment and vitality.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Clinopodium
Native to
Europe, Mediterranean Region
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, dry to average
Water
low
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The minty, oregano-like foliage is used in Italian and Greek cooking to season meats and soups.
  • It produces a cloud-like haze of tiny flowers that blooms nonstop for three months or more.
  • Bees are so attracted to it that beekeepers in Europe plant it near hives to improve honey production.
  • The plant was used in traditional European medicine as a digestive aid and fever reducer.
  • It tolerates poor, dry soils and is an excellent choice for hot, sunny spots where other plants struggle.

Color meanings

0

refreshment

1

warmth

2

cheer

Uses

  • culinary herb
  • pollinator gardens
  • rock gardens
  • ornamental borders
  • traditional medicine