Clinopodium vulgare

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Other common names

cushion calamint, brenhinllys gwyllt

Synonyms

Calamintha vulgaris
Clinopodium vulgaris
Calamintha clinopodium

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A perennial with soft, hairy slightly aromatic with usually unbranched stems stem and oval, slightly toothed and short stalked leaves. It bears pinkish purple 1.2 to 2.2 cm long arranged in whorls in late summer.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Clinopodium are a genus of flowering plants that can be perennials, aromatic herbs or small shrubs. Flowering mid-summer to early autumn, they produce whorls of delicate flowers at the top of each stem, which can vary in colour from purple to violet to pink, depending on the species.
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in free draining preferably calcareous soil.

Propagation

Propagate by seed - sow seeds in the autumn. Propagate by division from runners.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow

Pruning

Trim back flowered stems. If self seeding require, cut back after the seed was dispersed.

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free