Calamint ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

Characteristics

• Scientific Name: Calamintha (formerly Clinopodium)
• Genus: Bergmint with about 17 species
• Synonym: Steinquedel
• Family: Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae)
• Occurrence: Europe, Asia, America
• Growth type: perennial
• Growth: upright, bushy
• Growth height: 20 cm to 60 cm
• Leaf: oval, toothed
• Flower: Lip flower
• Hardiness: hardy
• Use: bed, pot, bee pasture

growth

the calamint is the hobby gardener's ace up his sleeve for a summer fairy tale of flowers for the benefit of people and insects. Even from a distance, the natural beauty is announced with a delicate mint scent and the loud buzzing and humming of busy bees. The following overview dares an attempt to summarize the picturesque composition of blossom magic, blaze of color and scent experience in factual key data of growth:

• growth type: perennial herb with hairy leaves and numerous labial flowers along the stems.
• growth habit
  : depending on the species, loosely bushy-upright and clump-forming or prostrate and cushion-forming.
• stem: square
• growth height: 20 cm to 60 cm, during flowering up to 80 cm.
• root: flat, creeping rhizomes.

In 2009, the classification of the calamint genus was reorganized with 17 recognized calamintha species. The former genus Clinopodium contained up to 200 species, which are now found in their own genera and subfamilies within the mint family.

blossom

The fragrant floral clouds of a calamint consist of clusters of delicate individual flowers that gather in dense inflorescences. Under ideal conditions, a lush sea of ​​flowers unfolds that covers all the leaves. A calamintha flower can be recognized by these characteristics:

• inflorescences: short-stalked, in clusters with 5 to 20 individual flowers and lanceolate supporting leaves.
• single flower: tubular to bell-shaped labial flowers 2-5 cm long, 5 petals, 2 to 5 stamens.
• flower color: depending on the species, white, bluish to pastel purple, pink to reddish, violet shades.
• flower ecology: hermaphrodite, rich in nectar (insect value 4)
• heyday: depending on the species from May to August or June/July to September/October

The top-class insect value and the long flowering period make calamints important plants. Especially in the time when there are few flowers from late summer to late autumn, rock thyme plants offer a lot wild bees, honey bees, bumblebees and butterflies a rich nectar buffet.

Steinquedel and other bee magnets in the late summer garden

Sheet

Calamint leaves make up for the simple appearance with an aromatic spearmint scent. A thyme leaf can be clearly recognized by these characteristics:

• leaf shape: stalked, ovate to elongate-oval, pointed, toothed leaf margin, 2 cm to 8 cm long.
• particularities: woolly hairs, the mint scent intensifies when crushed, edible.
• leaf color: grey-green to blue-green, some species with a silvery sheen.
• arrangement: opposite

species

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the mountain mint genus is represented by these five species suitable for gardens:

use

With natural charm, mountain mint greens stony, barren locations. In addition to their valued function as a decorative pioneer plant, Calamintha species are recommended for a wide range of uses. Be inspired by these ideas to creatively integrate stone quenelle into the design of beds and balconies:

• In the natural garden and perennial bed: scented plant, backdrop plant, edging, bee pasture.
• In the country house and cottage garden: bed border, ground cover, green fence.
• In the rose garden: decorative companion shrubs, picturesque underplanting of rose stems.
• In the rock garden: flowery planting of gravel beds, perfectly combined with sedges, Chickweed or red fescue.
• In the orchard: between or under fruit trees and berry bushes as a tempting plant for pollinators.

On the balcony and terrace, thyme is useful as a pot plant that is close to nature, as an underplant for privacy shrubs or as a fragrant beauty in pots herb stairs. Small, cushion-forming species adorn the flower box(€29.00 at Amazon*) as decorative hanging plants.

digression

American calfmint – mock calfmint with a measure

plant calamint

You can buy mountain mints ready to plant in the tree nursery or perennial nursery. Ambitious hobby gardeners choose the uncomplicated one sowing. Read here the best planting tips for thyme in the bed and on the balcony.

sowing

The germinating calamintha seeds are suitable for growing on the windowsill. From the end of February, scatter the tender seeds on lean, well-drained coconut soil. Do not cover the light germinators. Light pressing is enough for a good ground contact. Keep the cauliflower seed in a bright location at 20° Celsius constantly moist without waterlogging. The germination time is one to two weeks. After germination, place the seed pot in a cooler place at 16° to 18° Celsius. Seedlings with multiple leaves, separate into 9 cm pots with nutrient-poor transplanting soil.

Location

Calamint is a model of frugality. The undemanding is reflected in these site conditions:

• Full sun, warm and dry location.
• In nutrient-poor, rocky-sandy to loamy-gravelly, well-drained soil.

Thanks to their good-natured adaptability, Calamintha species also tolerate a partially shaded, fresh location in normal garden soil, as long as the perennials do not struggle with waterlogging have to.

planting tips

The time window for planting cassava in beds is from mid-May to mid-October. In the pot, stone quenelle is partially hardy and is best planted in spring. Simple steps when planting set the course for an exuberant blossom festival. It's worth taking a look at these planting tips:

• normals garden floor enrich with sand, fine-grained grit or lava granules(€14.00 at Amazon*) for optimal permeability.
• Unpot the calamint and plant it just as deep as before in the nursery pot or purchase container.
• Planting distance in the bed: 35 cm or 7 to 10 plants per m²
• Planting distance in the pot and flower box: 20 cm to 25 cm.
• As a pot substrate, a mix of peat-free balcony plant soil, coconut fibre, sand and expanded clay use.
• To prevent waterlogging on the bottom of the pot, create a drainage made of potsherds, expanded clay(€19.00 at Amazon*) or grit.

Bergminzen are at their best in tuffs with three to five plants.

Cultivate Calamint

Calamint is very easy to care for. A pruning at the right time elicits a second bloom in autumn from the beautiful flowers. Slight winter protection is only to be noted for potted plants and after autumn planting. It's so easy to care for stone quenelle in the bed and on the balcony:

• Pour: water regularly after planting, later in case of prolonged drought.
• Fertilize: Calamint not fertilize.
• To cut: Cut back by half to two thirds after the first bloom, cut back to the ground in late winter.
• propagation: division of the root ball in spring, cuttings cut in early summer, sow in spring or autumn.
• hibernate: Place pot on wood and cover with fleece, cover perennials planted in autumn with leaves.

You will rarely have to complain about diseases and pests on cassut. Snails avoid the fragrant perennial. Aphids also appear to be repelled by the essential oils that produce the mint scent. In warm, humid weather mildew occur, recognizable by the white coating. Cut off the affected parts of the plant and dispose of the clippings in the household waste.

Popular Varieties

The wild calamintha original species served as the floral starting point for these beautiful varieties:

• Calamintha nepeta 'Triumphator': Premium variety for borders and pots, white to pastel violet flower spikes, 35 cm small.
• Small-flowered calamint 'White Cloud': Calamintha nepeta with brilliant white flowers until autumn, 20-40 cm in size.
• Small-flowered calamint 'Blue Cloud': enchants with violet-blue clouds of flowers from July to October, 50-60 cm high.
• Ascending Bergmint 'Gottfried Kühn': particularly stable variety with lilac-pink flowers, 30-50 cm high.
• Large-flowered calamint 'Variegata': boasts purplish-pink flowers up to 4 cm in size and white-green leaves, 40 cm high.

FAQ

Are Calamint Leaves Edible?

Yes, calamint leaves are edible. Essential oils give the foliage a delicious peppermint flavor. You can safely use the leaves and flowers as a kitchen herb or prepare a refreshing tea from them.

How to propagate a calamint?

The calamint is not only particularly easy to care for, but also very easy to propagate. The following methods are available: sowing, division and cuttings. The division has the advantage that you rejuvenate the perennial at the same time and give new impetus to flowering.

When and how does the calamint get a pruning?

Basically, you don't need to cut a calamint at all. Of course, cutting back twice a year is advantageous for vitality and willingness to flower. Cut back the perennial by two-thirds after the first blooms. With a bit of luck, a pretty second bloom will appear in the fall. In late winter, cut off the drawn-in parts of the plant at ground level, which clears the way for fresh shoots.

Can I plant spring mint in the bed at the beginning of May?

If you plant out calender in early May, you should cover the tender plants with fleece until mid-May. It is better if the young plants complete a phase of hardening on the partially shaded balcony in front of the protective house wall until the ice saints.

Should you plant a calamint with a root barrier?

The calamint grows clump-forming. Over the years, the perennial gains in width without making itself unpopular with invasive spread. In contrast to the real peppermint (Mentha piperita) the planting with root barrier not mandatory.