Wildflowers Tuesday – Limestone calamint
Observing plants growing in the wild has always been my greatest source of inspiration when it comes to growing species in the rock garden or other more specific situations (like a scree garden). Growing along the shores of lakes Michigan and Huron on rocky, calcareous substrate/alvars in full sun, there is this little mint scented plant, which seems perfect for the edge of the rockery, or as a groundcover along a patio or walkway. It will bring a much needed splash of colour in mid-summer, not to mention the refreshing spicy mint scent!
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Clinopodium arkansanum (limestone calamint)
Green-purple delicate stems with linear leaves and large, lavender flowers at peak flowering usually sometimes in July.
Another one that got into the ‘seeds to be collected’ list, which keeps getting longer and longer.
It’s a beauty, no question.
Thank you. And very, very minty, but I cannot show this in a picture :)
What a lovely little flower, set off perfectly by the reddish stems and calyxes, beautiful. :)
And super-scented; invigorating, good to have around on a hot day or if you work to hard and feel like fainting :)
Does it *require* limestone, or rather is it able to tolerate it, do you know?
Thanks for stopping by; it seems is a species that ‘requires’ limestone. I plan to spread seeds around tufa stones in the fall, we’ll see how it does.