Greek Mountain Tea

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Perennial

Native distribution

Crete

Biocultural value

In Greece the aromatic leaves are made into a traditional tea for treating colds.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Well-Sweep Herb Farm

Description

Perennial to 40cm. Stems usually simple, white-tomentose. Leaves to 6x2cm, sessile, linear or oblong to lanceolate or ovate, apex obtuse, margin entire to toothed or notched. Verticillasters 20, 4-10 flowered, to 5cm distant, in spikes; bracts to 1cm, suborbicular, apex narrowly acute to mucronate; calyx to 12mm, white-tomentose, teeth to 5mm, linear to lanceolate, apex narrowly acute; corolla to 15mm, yellow, pubescent, interior brown-striate.

USDA Hardiness Zone

8

Special characteristics

food, tender perennial, medicinal/pharmaceutical