Clinopodium vulgare

Clinopodium vulgare, the common wild basil, also known as Calamintha clinopodium, is a perennial plant that is closely related to calamints and grows spontaneously in woodland edges or at the base of hedges in most regions, mainly on limestone soils which are fairly dry in summer. With its long flowering period in a purplish pink, this plant is useful to bees, but also gardeners for its ability to tolerate competition and drought from the roots of trees and shrubs.

Clinopodium vulgare belongs to the family of labiates, just like mints, savory, thyme, and other nepetas. It is a Eurasian and sub-Mediterranean botanical species, also found in North Africa. It is an edible, medicinal, and dyeing plant, devoid of fragrance. It is a perennial plant with creeping roots that forms a cluster of leafy stems ranging from 35 to 70 cm (14 to 28in) high, spreading over time. Its small green, wavy, hairy, and slightly toothed leaves resemble those of oregano. Flowering occurs from July to September. Oval, hairy leaves emerge from the upright, branching stems and small, purplish-pink flowers are gathered in large, feathery, and erect clusters at the axils and tips of the branches. It is a native wild plant that is very hardy and fairly drought-tolerant.

The common wild basil is ideal in a natural garden, especially in limestone soils. It is used to green the edge of an understory, a place abandoned by other plants. To accompany it, choose other intrepid wild plants: Calamintha nepeta, lemon balm, periwinkle and bloody cranesbill geranium, for example.