Lesser Calamint Seeds Seeds Piccolo Seeds
Lesser Calamint Seeds — Default Title
Lesser Calamint Seeds Seeds Piccolo Seeds
Piccolo Seeds

Lesser Calamint Seeds

Mint and oregano scented leaves for Italian cooking

£2.99

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Description

Key benefits

  • Mint and oregano scented leaves for Italian cooking
  • Clouds of pale lilac to white flowers July to October
  • Long-flowering perennial loved by bees
  • Hardy and drought tolerant, for borders, gravel or pots
  • Packet of about 100 seeds with growing instructions

Lesser calamint is two plants in one: an Italian kitchen herb and one of the longest-flowering perennials a bee could ask for. Neat, bushy clumps of small grey-green leaves smell of mint and oregano, and from midsummer into autumn they disappear under clouds of tiny pale lilac to white flowers. In Tuscany and Rome it is known as nepitella or mentuccia, cooked with mushrooms, artichokes and courgettes. Clinopodium nepeta is hardy and drought tolerant, at home at the front of a sunny border, in gravel or in a pot. It should not be eaten during pregnancy.

Sowing and growing

  • Sow indoors March to May on the surface of seed compost; the seed needs light
  • Plant out in late spring, or sow in a seedbed May to June
  • Surface sow and press in lightly; do not cover
  • Germination takes 14 to 28 days at 15 to 20°C
  • Full sun in light, free-draining soil; tolerates dry spells once established
  • Grows to about 30 to 60 cm tall and 30 cm wide
  • Pick leaves from summer; flowers July to October, mostly from the second year
  • Hardy herbaceous perennial

What you receive: a packet of about 100 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

It belongs with our plants for wildlife and pollinators, and you will find more herbs in our seed collection.

How to use
  1. Sow indoors March to May on the surface of seed compost, as the seed needs light.
  2. Press the seed in lightly and do not cover it.
  3. Plant out in late spring, in full sun and light, free-draining soil.
  4. Pick leaves from summer onwards.
Delivery and returns

Every order is hand-packed and sent with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? You can return unused items within 14 days of delivery. See our returns policy.

Hand-packed and sent tracked
14-day returns on unused items
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Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lesser calamint used for in cooking?

In central Italy it is the classic herb for sautéed mushrooms, and it is also used with artichokes, courgettes and lamb. The flavour sits between mint and oregano. Use it sparingly at first, as it is quite strong.

Is lesser calamint perennial?

Yes, it is a hardy herbaceous perennial that dies back in winter and returns each spring. Cut it back after flowering or in early spring to keep the clump tidy.

Is lesser calamint good for bees?

Very. It flowers for months from midsummer into autumn and is constantly visited by bees, and the RHS lists it among plants for pollinators. Plant it near a path or seat to enjoy the scent and the insects.

What is your returns policy?

Changed your mind? You can return pots, gifts, accessories and other non-plant items. Email hello@growtropicals.com with your order number within 14 days of delivery, then send the item back within 14 days of telling us. You pay the return postage.

Items must come back unused and in their original condition. If an item has been used, we may reduce your refund by the value it has lost, and for used items this can be the full price.

Live plants cannot be returned because you have changed your mind, but they are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

If something arrives damaged, faulty or wrong, email us with your order number and photos and we will put it right at no cost to you. Full details are in our returns policy.

When will my order arrive and how much is shipping?

Choose your delivery speed at checkout. Express orders placed before 1pm are dispatched the same day, otherwise the next working day. Standard orders are dispatched within 2 to 3 working days and Economy orders within 4 to 5 working days. Once dispatched, every order travels by 24 hour tracked courier.

Delivery is free on orders over £60 with Economy, over £100 with Standard and over £150 with Express. Below that, the charge depends on your basket total and is always shown at checkout before you pay. The full price list is in our shipping policy.

Orders without plants are dispatched Monday to Friday. If your order also includes plants, it goes out Monday to Thursday so the plants are not left in the courier network over the weekend. Delivery can take longer at busy times such as Black Friday and Christmas.

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Packed with care

Packed with care

Every order is hand-packed in protective packaging and sent with tracked delivery, so it reaches you in one piece.

Free tracked delivery on orders over £60.

Ready to give

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Add a gift message at checkout and we will handwrite it and pack it with your order.

Pair it with a plant for a complete gift.

Easy returns

Easy returns

Changed your mind? Send unused items back within 14 days of delivery and we will refund you.

Full details in our returns policy.

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Lesser Calamint Seeds
£2.99