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Sideritis syriaca

Sideritis syriaca
Mountain Tea

4,0/5
4 reviews
1 reviews
1 reviews
0 reviews
0 reviews

With a 2-year hindsight: the young plants, received small and looking a bit weak, are now very vigorous and starting their first flowering! They have filled all the planting space (concrete container for retaining wall, the highest one to be well drained). Very good resistance to drought.

Corinne, 24/04/2024

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

A small perennial plant in the form of a low tuft with grey-silver, woolly and highly aromatic leaves, which flowers in May-June: foliage emerges from slender spikes adorned with small pale yellow flowers. Leaves, stems and dried flowers are prepared as herbal tea. The plant has an exceptional flavour and remarkable medicinal properties. It is cultivated in dry and sunny rock gardens, in gravel gardens or as an aromatic plant. Highly resistant to drought, Mountain Tea can also withstand short frosts to about -15°C (5°F) in perfectly drained soil.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
15 cm
Spread at maturity
35 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -9°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time February to April, September to October
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Mountain Tea, in Latin Sideritis syriaca, is a perennial aromatic and medicinal plant. It forms small, very low tufts and has small, woolly, silver-grey, aromatic, evergreen leaves. In late spring, the cushion comes alive with small, light yellow flowers grouped in spikes. Leaves, stems, and especially dried flowers have been used by shepherds in the Cretan mountains who prepare an invigorating and fragrant herbal tea, sweetened with honey and lemon. This Greek tea is both a preferred plant for dry rock gardens and arid areas of the garden and one of the gems of the simple garden.

 

Endemic to Crete, Sideritis syriaca spontaneously grows on rocks and limestone scree, between 1200 (1320) and 2000m (2187 yards) above sea level. It is a botanical species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, just like thyme, savoury, and oregano. This perennial plant develops into a tuft of 10-15 cm (4-6in) in height and 30-40 cm (12-16in) in spread. Its stump slightly suckers, so it can spread to form groundcover. The narrow, elongated leaves are covered with a woolly down that gives them a lovely silver-grey colour. When crushed, they give off a fresh, peppery smell. The flowering occurs in May-June. It takes the form of flower spikes 40 cm (16in) high adorned with very small bilabiate flowers in light yellow with acid green bracts, which are very bright. This flowering, like that of all plants in the Lamiaceae family, attracts numerous pollinators. Extremely resistant to summer drought, this Greek mountain tea can also withstand short freezes of around -15°C (5°F).

 

Sideritis syriaca is primarily a beautiful plant for sunny and dry, poor, rocky soil, valuable for gardens near the sea or Mediterranean regions without irrigation. It finds its place in rock gardens, gravel beds, with aromatic plants, or even as an edging along a pathway. It can be associated with thyme, shrubby salvias, marjoram (Origanum majorana), compact lavenders, savory, teucrium, low cistus, and other santolines to evoke the scrubland in a dry area of the garden. One of the charms of this type of arrangement lies in the scents emitted by all these plants after a hot day: they blend into a complex fragrance to be enjoyed with closed eyes: intense, captivating, it constitutes the quintessence of the Mediterranean countryside.

Properties and uses:

Sideritis syriaca has been known since antiquity as a medicinal plant and is still used as a beverage or remedy in Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania. Delicious invigorating herbal tea is prepared with the flowers and leaves. Harvest the flower spikes and leaves during the flowering period and hang them to dry in a dark and well-ventilated place. Infuse, like tea, and serve with a little lemon juice and honey. This mountain tea is attributed with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and immune system stimulating properties.

 

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 1 cm
Fragrance slightly scented
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour grey or silver
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description Very aromatic foliage, with a fragrance that is both fresh and peppery.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 15 cm
Spread at maturity 35 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Sideritis

Species

syriaca

Family

Lamiaceae

Other common names

Mountain Tea

Origin

Mediterranean

Product reference167671

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Planting and care

The Greek Mountain Tea is a plant perfectly adapted to the Mediterranean climate. It requires full sun and a very well-drained soil, preferably poor, even very chalky and rocky. It is undemanding, but it dislikes strong frosts that harm its hardiness.  In a porous soil, it will withstand short frosts of around -15°C (5°F). Plant it preferably in early autumn in a favourable climate, but after the last frosts. Like many plants of scrubland, it cannot tolerate waterlogged soils in winter, nor too frequent watering in summer: the combination of heat and moisture in the soil can be fatal to it. Water this plant only as much as necessary for its establishment, prioritising generous but spaced waterings (every 8 to 15 days). Do not provide it with potting cpmpost or fertiliser, simply lighten the soil in your garden with a large amount of gravel and plant it in a raised bed or in a dry rock garden.

A poor and dry soil allows this plant to live longer.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time February to April, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Rockery
Type of use Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Very well-drained, poor soil.

Care

Pruning instructions Prune lightly after flowering to encourage a compact habit.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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