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Herbaceous Perennial

Calamintha ascendens

basil thyme

A perennial herb that reaches up to 60cm in height with a spread to 50cm, with a bushy habit and square stems emerging from the base. The leaves are greyish-green, oval-shaped with blunt tips, measuring up to 4cm in length. They have shallow, rounded teeth along the edges and a slightly hairy texture. From July to September, it produces pale pinkish or bluish tubular flowers with spots on the white lower lip. The flowers are about 1.5cm long and are arranged in whorls around the stem. Both the leaves and flowers emit a minty aroma

Other common names

cat mint
common calamint
see morecup mint
medicinal calamint

Synonyms

Clinopodium ascendens
Calamintha officinalis misapplied
see moreCalamintha menthifolia ascendens
Calamintha sylvatica subsp. ascendens

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Calamintha are pleasantly aromatic perennials with ovate leaves and loose clusters of small, 2-lipped flowers in summer and autumn in the axils of the upper leaves
Name status: Correct
Plant range: W & SC Europe to Ukraine & W Turkey

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well drained soil in sun or partial shade. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors or in a cold frame. Divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

For more information see our page on cutting back herbaceous perennials

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to powdery mildews

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