Calamintha nepeta White Cloud - Calamint

Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud' is a perennial shrub that thrives in dry and sunny areas, producing numerous spikes of tiny white flowers that create a haze above its foliage from late spring to autumn. Only summer heat and drought can temper its generous flowering. Its small, fuzzy, and semi-evergreen leaves release a powerful scent of mint mixed with tar when crushed. This versatile and undemanding plant is equally beautiful in borders or on a dry stone wall.

Originating from Southern Europe and North Africa, Calamintha nepeta is a small rhizomatous plant that is very hardy and undemanding, similar to mint, belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Its natural habitat consists of dry and rocky places in mountainous areas with limestone soil. The 'White Cloud' variety has retained the robust character of this fearless little perennial while adding a more spectacular flowering display. It forms a small bushy clump, reaching 45 cm (18in) in height and 70 cm (28in) in width when in bloom. Its spikes bear tiny two-lipped white flowers, measuring 1.5 cm (1in), with a delicate minty scent, appearing in July-August, sometimes as early as June in mild climates. Remove faded flowers and the blooming continues until September, with a brief pause during hot and dry summers. The foliage is composed of small ovate, fuzzy, slightly toothed, greyish-green leaves, 4 cm (2in) long, loaded with a refreshingly fragrant essential oil.

When planted in dry, sandy, or limestone soil, the Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud' is very hardy and pleasantly perfumes the garden when planted near a pathway, stepping stones, or an alley, where it self-seeds freely. On a hot day, gently crushing its foliage releases a unique scent that instantly transports the gardener to memories of the Mediterranean. In a dry garden or on a wall, it can be accompanied by dwarf artemisias, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, thrifts, thyme, or creeping rosemary. In humid regions with heavy soil, it can be planted in a large rockery, a scree garden, a paved area, or on a well-exposed slope, in front of taller perennials such as mulleins or shrubby salvias.