# Lesser Calamint (*Clinopodium nepeta*)

Lesser Calamint is a small, fragrant plant with tiny purple flowers. It grows in sunny places and is loved by bees and butterflies. This plant is great for making gardens smell nice!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Lesser Calamint](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calamintha_nepeta_nepeta0.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calamintha_nepeta_nepeta0.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lesser Calamint is a bushy, perennial herb growing to about 60cm, featuring small, oval, aromatic leaves. Its delicate, pale lilac to white flowers, often speckled with purple, are arranged in whorls along its stems, giving it a subtle charm.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Clinopodium

## Interesting facts

- In some cultures, it was tossed on floors to freshen homes before vacuums!
- Its leaves release a lovely minty-oregano scent when you brush past them!
- Over 40 different insect species, especially bees, adore its tiny blooms!
- The name "Calamint" comes from Greek, meaning "beautiful mint"!

## Special abilities

- **Aroma Armor:** Lesser Calamint can produce strong aromatic oils that help it deter hungry herbivores from nibbling its leaves.
- **Nectar Beacon:** Lesser Calamint has tiny, sweet flowers that act like a beacon, attracting many helpful insect pollinators.
- **Sun Seeker:** Lesser Calamint can thrive in hot, dry, sunny spots where many other plants would struggle to grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early Autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Drinks nectar from its small, sweet blossoms.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen resources.
- **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Brewed into a fragrant herbal tea or used in cooking.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lesser Calamint?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lesser Calamint?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Lesser Calamint spread?

30-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lesser Calamint?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Lesser Calamint bloom?

Summer to early Autumn

### Is Lesser Calamint edible?

Yes

### Is Lesser Calamint toxic?

None

### What is Lesser Calamint's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lesser Calamint: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-calamint)