What soil does Lesser calamint grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Lesser calamint hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Lesser calamint flower?

Flowering: June–October, white, purple, pink.

How much water does Lesser calamint need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Lesser calamint

Calamintha nepeta

Lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta) is a perennial. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Lesser calamint — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low, bushy perennial that wraps itself in a cloud of tiny white or pale lilac flowers from midsummer until frost and is then one of the busiest plants in the garden, covered in honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies. The leaves smell of mint and oregano when rubbed and are used as a herb; it takes drought and summer heat well, so it suits sunny edges, gravel beds and the front of roses and grasses. Give it well-drained soil, cut it to the ground in spring, and shear it after flowering if you do not want seedlings (sterile cultivars do not seed).

Watch out for

It can be short-lived: after a few years the clump goes bare in the middle and is best renewed by division or from seedlings. In a spot it likes it self-seeds; the seedlings are easy to pull. Powdery mildew can attack it, mainly in dense, airless plantings, and the foliage may decline in hot, humid weather. It comes up late in spring, so do not hoe over its place, and it does not tolerate heavy soil that is wet in winter.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 45 cm × 50 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–October, white, purple, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	45 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	30–50 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–October, white, purple, pink
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €3.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Perennials for full sun Perennials that flower all summer Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance perennials Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

Compare with similar plants

Lesser calamint vs Common yarrow

Looks good next to it

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Variegated rock cress

Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi

Bearskin fescue

Festuca gautieri