Clinopodium nepeta
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Calamintha nepeta
- Phonetic Spelling
- kly-no-PO-dee-um ne-PEE-tah
- Description
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Lesser calamint is a short-lived herbaceous perennial native to the Mediterranean and parts of Iran and has naturalized in areas of Mexico and the US. In NC, it is primarily found in the Piedmont. It is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). The specific epithet is in reference to the resemblance of the plant to catnip.
Lesser calamint grows upt to 1 and 1/2 feet tall and 2 feet wide and prefers full sun in well-drained, moist to dry sandy, rocky or loamy soils. It is deer and drought-tolerant. Propagation is from seeds.
The leaves are pleasantly fragrant when crushed with a minty-lemon scent. The tubular flowers occur in loose clusters of white, pink or lavender from mid to late summer until frost and attract many pollinators. Lesser calamint was selected as the 2021 Perennial Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association.
Use this plant in borders of cottage, drought-tolerant, rock and pollinator gardens. It does well planted along walkways and along patios.
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:
- nepeta
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be used as an herb for flavoring or as tea. The sent is a mix of mint and oregano.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Multiple tiny two-lipped white, pink or lavender flowers are born on upright leafy stems up to 18 inches
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate gray-green leaves with a minty-lemon fragrance when crushed
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived
