Calamintha is a genus of flora that belongs to the household Lamiaceae. Commonly referred to as the calamints, there are about eight species in the genus (around 30 earlier than revisions in taxonomy) which is native to the northern temperate areas of Europe, Asia, and America.

About Calamint Plants

The calamint plant is a member of the mint family, with variegated, fragrant foliage and large flowers. This precise range blooms nearly continually all through the heat weather. With its tolerance for mild shade, it will maintain blooming even if the climate is cloudy for a prolonged length of time. If anything, it looks to thrive on rainy, cool weather.
An attractive, dependable herb. Calamint plants are thick-stemmed, bushy herbs that spread from rhizomes like most mint plants. The leaves are heavily veined and highly textured, many sporting ridges and most with hairy or fuzzy foliage. Some types of calamint maybe 4 to 24 inches tall and bloom in mid to late summer with some varieties flowering in fall. Flowers are two-lipped slender tubes in hues that range from purple to red and into white and cream. The plant can self-sow but its more invasive qualities are found from the ranging stems and rhizomes, which root at internodes and can create new plants.

Types of Calamint

Calamint is a member of the Labiatae family and includes all types of mints. This group of herbs is vast and includes a variety of cultivars and specimens. There is a Grandiflora variety with larger fuzzy veined leaves and lavender tubular flowers. The scent is amazing, with a burst of minty-tangerine freshness. Among the lesser calamint is a variety with a grapefruit-mint scent and many other pungent aromas. The diminutive Ozark calamint is only 6 inches tall with vibrant red flowers in late spring.
Other varieties of sport imaginative names such as wild basil, monkeyflower, mountain thyme and limestone savoury. The smallest of the lesser calamint is a 4-inch tall trailing variety with pink to mauve blooms.

Listed below are some of the more commonly grown varieties of mint for the garden:
Peppermint
Spearmint
Pineapple mint
Apple mint (Woolly mint)
Pennyroyal
Ginger mint
Horsemint
Red Raripila mint
Catmint
Chocolate mint
Orange mint
Lavender mint
Grapefruit mint
Calamint
Licorice mint
Basil mint
Chewing Gum mint
Watermint Corn or Field mint

CALMINTHA NEPETA

Lesser calamint is a perennial shrub, forming a compact mound of shiny, inexperienced oregano-like leaves. The plant life is lavender-pink. The plant reaches a top of 18 inches.[3] The lesser calamint smells like a pass between mint and oregano. It attracts honeybees and butterflies.[4] Lesser calamint normally grows in the Summer, and nicely into the Fall. It can emerge as dormant in the wintry weather months, then reblossom in spring. In fall, the plant life falls to the floor and will self-seed. Seedlings will flower in late August.[4] Lesser calamint regularly grows wild, however, can additionally store in pots. The common existence expectancy of a plant is 3–4 years. It is inclined to powdery mildew.

Calamintha ashei

Clinopodium ashei (syn. Calamintha ashei) is a species of flowering plant in the mint household recognized by means of the frequent names Ashe’s savoury and Ashe’s calamint. It is native to Florida and Georgia in the United

This hairy shrub grows up to about 1/2 a meter tall. It is aromatic. The stems have cracking, peeling bark and the more recent twigs have a coat of downy hairs. The leaves are linear to narrowly oval in form and are up to a centimetre long. They are bushy and glandular. The flower has a hairy, lipped corolla about a centimetre lengthy now not counting its tubular throat. It is whitish to faded lavender in colour. Blooming takes place between January and April.

This plant happens in openings in Florida scrub vegetation. It grows on sand dunes alongside the Ohoopee River. It can additionally be located in disturbed habitat such as roadsides. This plant is in all likelihood allelopathic, producing chemicals that restrict the increase of different vegetation nearby. There are 60 to eighty occurrences of the plant; in customary it is distinctive however it can be frequent locally.

The plant is the solely recognized pollen supply for Osmia calaminthae or the blue Calamintha bee.

Choosing Mint Plant

Varieties Each mint variety has its own flavour or scent, though some may be similar. Most, however, vary greatly between mint types. Be sure the type you choose not only is well suited to your growing region but also its intended use in the garden Not all mint varieties are used for culinary purposes. Some are better utilized for their aromatic properties or aesthetic appearances while others, like field mint, are normally treated as medicinal plants.

How to Grow Calamint Herbs

Herbs enliven the garden and accent it with a richness of texture, unique scents and properties. Calamint (Calamintha nepeta) is a native herb to the UK with a host of potential medicinal uses and a lovely flower display and intense leaf texture. The herb thrives in organic to sandy soils and releases a strong camphor scent when the leaves are crushed. You may wonder, “Can I grow calamint?” The plant is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 9 and is easy to grow and care for the herb.

Place calamint plants in full sun where soils drain well. Container gardening is a good way to keep the herbs from spreading. They also make excellent border plants but some maintenance is necessary to keep the plant from invading other areas. The potager garden is also a prime spot for growing calamint herbs. There you can easily access the leaves and stems for a host of useful purposes. Calamint has few pest or disease problems but you need to be vigilant for small insect pests such as whitefly. Treat with horticultural soap or blasts of fresh water to rinse off the insects.

Uses of  Calamint

This has long been a medicinal herb with uses ranging from topical to endemic. The high menthol content of the leaves makes it a perfect poultice for bruises and contusions, as well as a rub for bronchial issues. It is not wise to handle or use the herb if you are pregnant. But how to use calamint in seasoning? Traditionally, the herb has been used to flavour meats, but the variety dictates the flavour profile. Some more closely resemble thyme, while others are similar to zingy basil. Calamint plants are attractive to butterflies and bees and dry well as an addition to potpourri. Dry the leaves for a refreshing hot or cold tea. This versatile plant will become one of your favourites for its carefree nature, beauty and usefulness.