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 mint-family short-lived herbaceous perennial herb that, while native to the Mediterranean and parts of Iran, is naturalized in areas of Mexico and the US. In NC it is primarily found in the Piedmont. 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.
Use this plant in cottage gardens, borders, rock gardens or as a ground cover in well-drained sandy to rocky soils in full sun.
Stems may root at nodes where they touch the ground, or the plant may spread by rhizomes or self-seed. Powdery mildew may be a problem with heat and humidity.
- 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:
- Medium
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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, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived
