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Clinopodium spp.

calamints

Lamiaceae

Temperate and subtropical Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Clinopodium spp. is a genus of about 100 aromatic perennials and subshrubs in the mint family, Lamiaceae, spread across temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Plants form bushy mounds of square stems and small, opposite, mint-scented leaves, topped through summer and autumn by loose whorls of small, two-lipped flowers in white, pink, lilac, or purple. Calamint C. nepeta and wild basil C. vulgare are the familiar members. The long bloom and aromatic foliage draw many bees and other pollinators. Plants can self-seed and spread at the root, and the individual flowers are small, often under 0.5 inch (12 mm), which are the main limitations.

Native Range

Native across temperate and subtropical Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with several species native to North America. Plants grow on dry banks, rocky slopes, grassland, and open woodland.

Suggested Uses

Planted in herb gardens, gravel and rock gardens, and the front of sunny borders, and massed as a pollinator planting. The aromatic foliage suits paths and edges where it is brushed in passing.

How to Identify

Square stems and paired, mint-scented leaves mark it as a member of the mint family. Small two-lipped tubular flowers, usually under 0.5 inch (12 mm), sit in open whorls in the leaf axils and at the stem tips through summer and autumn. The whole plant smells of mint or thyme when brushed. The airy whorls of tiny flowers separate it from the larger-flowered garden mints.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Loose whorls of small two-lipped flowers open over a long season from early summer into autumn, roughly June to October. The extended bloom and minty nectar draw steady traffic of bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, pink, lilac, or purple

Foliage Description

green to grey-green, aromatic

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.8(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1 year to flowering

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Clinopodium spp. grows in full sun and well-drained soil and is drought tolerant once established. It accepts poor, dry, and alkaline soils and is hardy to about USDA zone 5 (-20°F / -29°C). Plants need little feeding, as rich soil produces floppy growth. A shear after the first flush prompts a fresh round of bloom. Plants self-seed in open ground and can be lifted and divided in spring.

Pruning

A midseason shear removes spent flowers, prompts rebloom, and keeps the mound tidy. Plants are cut back close to the ground in late winter. Self-sown seedlings are easily pulled where they are not wanted.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic