Sideritis syriaca
a perennial member of the Sideritis genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An aromatic herbal tea is made from the plant[1].
- Product or use
- Tea
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe - E. Mediterranean in Crete.
- Habitat
- Mountain rocks[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a perfectly drained gritty humus-rich soil, preferably slightly alkaline, in full sun[1]. Once established, this is a very drought-tolerant plant, it grows well in a hot dry position[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country. It tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c but is intolerant of winter cold if this is accompanied by wet conditions[1]. The leaves and flowering tops are sold for tea in local markets[2].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00