Practical
Plants

Calamintha nepeta

Lesser Calamint

a perennial member of the Calamintha genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.75 m
Fertility
Bees, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves have a strong pennyroyal-like fragrance and are more pungent than calamint (C. sylvatica)[4]. They can be used as a flavouring[4]. A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the leaves[6].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Lesser calamint was commonly used as a medicinal herb in medieval times, though is little used by modern herbalists[7]. It is sometimes cultivated as a medicinal herb for household use. The whole plant is aromatic, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic[9][2]. The leaves are harvested in July as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[9]. An infusion is beneficial in cases of flatulent colic and weaknesses of the stomach[9], it is also used to treat depression, insomnia and painful menstruation[7]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause a miscarriage[7].

Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, south from France and S. Russia to N. Africa and to Iran in W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry banks, usually on calcareous soils[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. It usually germinates in 2 weeks at 21°c[1]. 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 June. They should be rooted in a sandy compost[8]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained dry to moist neutral to alkaline soil and a warm sunny position[6][7]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[5]. This species is very closely related to C. sylvatica, and is considered to be no more than a sub-species by some botanists[9]. A very good bee plant[5].

References

  1. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩

  2. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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