Georgia Basil Clinopodium carolinianum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Clinopodium georgianum
- Phonetic Spelling
- klin-oh-POH-dee-um kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-num
- Description
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Georgia calamint is a perennial shrub in the mint family native to the southeastern U.S.A. It is rated critically impaired in NC and is found in the piedmont, sandhills and coastal plains in disturbed areas and along the edges of sandy pinewoods, particularly on roadbanks with thin soil and little woody competition.
The shrub is multi-stemed and grows 1-2 feet tall and wide in well-drained sandy, rocky or loamy soils. It prefers sun to partial shade and can be grown in containers. Cut the plant back after flowering to prevent legginess. Propagate by division and stem cuttings.
Georgia calamint has clusters of fragrant, pretty tubular purple flowers from July to September. The leaves are up to 1 inch long with the many blooms nearly the same length in the leaf axils, turning the whole plant “pink” when in full bloom.
Use Georgia calamint in the border of pollinator, native and drought-tolerant gardens for late summer blooms.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clinopodium
- Species:
- carolinianum
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Dry, four-part schizocarp fruit containing small, individual nutlets. Displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Produces panicles of fragrant, light purplish-pink tubular flowers with dark spots on the lower lobe from July to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green ovate leaves with toothed edges are 3/4 to 1 inch long
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems develop from the base and up and are rarely branched
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
