Description

Acinos – Calamint

Genus of about 10 species of annuals, and semi-evergreen to evergreen, spreading woody perennials.  Name derives from the Greek word ‘akinos’ means small aromatic plant.  From the mountainous areas of Central and South Europe and Western Asia.  It has opposite leaves with 2 lipped tube shape flower borne on erect spikes mid summer usually with short bushy hairs. Cultivation is quite easy they’re frost hardy and will grow in poor soil as well as its well drained and they resent wet conditions and need full sun. Prone to aphids, spider mites and pyhthium. Acinos alpinus – Calamintha alpina – Alpine Calamint – In mid summer it produces spikes of 3-8 violet flowers 1” inch wide with white marks on the lower lips. Short lived spreading perennial 8”inches tall and 6” inches wide that’s evergreen.  It has rounded ¾” long, leaves with either pointed or blunt tips. Zones 5-9