Common calamint
Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A small herb. It grows about 30 cm high. It has one main stem and several long branches. The leaves are greyish-green. The leaves are 4 cm long and oval with blunt tips. It has mint-scented leaves. The flowers are in rings that spread out along the top third of the plant. The flowers are pink or purple.

There are 6 or 7 Calamintha species. It is also used medicinally.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry, grassy areas and is usually on alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Europe, Ireland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Herb, leaves - flavour

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Leylak feslegeni

Synonyms

Calamintha ascendens Jord.; Calamintha fenzlii Vis.; Calamintha intermedia (Baumg.) Heinr.Braun; Calamintha officinalis subsp. ascendens (Jord.) Mateo; Calamintha sylvatica subsp ascendens (Jord.) P. W. Ball.; Clinopodium ascendens (Jord.) Samp.; Melissa intermedia Baumg.; Satureja ascendens (Jord.) K. Maly; Satureja calamintha var. ascendens (Jord.) Briq.; Satureja calamintha subsp. ascendens (Jord.) Briq.; Satureja fenzlii (Vis.) K. Maly; Satureja intermedia (Baumg.) Heinr.Braun; Satureja sylvatica subsp. ascendens (Jord.) R. L. Taylor & MacBryde;