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Clinopodium vulgare - L.

Common Name Wild Basil
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Heaths and dry grassy places, usually on calcareous soils[5, 17].
Range Most of Europe, including Britain, south and west to N. Africa, Siberia, central and western Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil


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Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Clinopodium vulgare is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Calamintha clinopodium. Calamintha vulgaris.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Edible leaves - used fresh or dried as a flavouring in cooked foods[5, 8, 12, 183] or fresh as a flavouring in salads[177]. A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the fresh leaves[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Aromatic  Astringent  Cardiotonic  Carminative  Diaphoretic  Expectorant

The plant is aromatic, astringent, cardiotonic, carminative, diaphoretic and expectorant[4, 145]. An infusion of the plant helps to overcome weak digestion[244].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow and a brown dye are obtained from the leaves[46, 61].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in almost any well-drained soil[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks at 21°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse. Plant them out in the summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division in spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring. Cuttings of soft wood in May or June.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (southwest)), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador), United States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Minnesota (east), Illinois (northeast), Wisconsin, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona (south), Utah (Washington Co.)) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Clinopodium chinense Perennial0.5 6-9  LMHSNM20 
Clinopodium glabellumGlade calamintPerennial0.6 6-7 FLMHSNMWe003
Clinopodium umbrosum Perennial0.6 6-9  LMSNM011

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Sat Jun 13 2009

cool. . .

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