Growing Calamintha (Calamint)

Latin Name Pronunciation: kal-uh-min' thuh   

Calamintha is a genus in the Mint family native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. These flowering herbaceous perennials are generally found in grasslands, scrubs, and woodlands across these temperate regions, explaining their heat and drought tolerance. Flowers keep blooming all summer and into fall.

Full sun (afternoon shade is recommended in the warmest reaches of Zone 9 in the West) and well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. Has shrubby tendencies. Leave the fine, twiggy stems up over winter to catch light snowfalls. Cut back to live wood in spring. In the South, plants may look tired after the first wave of bloom; cut to the ground in midsummer for a fresh crop of bright green leaves.