WHERE’S WILDLIFE • WILDFLOWER FIELD GUIDE

Low Calamint

Clinopodium arkansanum

Pronounced (approximate): klin-oh-POH-dee-um ar-kan-SAY-num

A small native mint with slender leaves and delicate pale lavender flowers. Its low, leafy stems grow in lime-rich habitats, from Great Lakes shore flats and fens to limestone openings.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): close view of pale tubular flowers and narrow leaves. Tap the photo to open the gallery.

NATIVE • NORTH AMERICA

At a glance

Family Lamiaceae
Life cycle Perennial, sometimes woody at the base
Blooms June–August, varying with location
Height Usually 6–12 inches
Habitat Calcareous fens, wet prairies, shore flats, and limestone openings

Common names
Low Calamint · Limestone Calamint · Arkansas Mint · Ozark Calamint · Wild Savory

Sightings map

Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.

How to recognize it

Key identification clues

Narrow, opposite leaves with smooth margins.
Small, pale lavender or whitish two-lipped flowers.
Flowers arise from leaf axils on slender stalks.
Low, branched stems with little or no hair.

Where and when to look

Search open, lime-rich ground in summer. In Wisconsin it occurs in wet dolomite flats, fens, and wet prairies.

Compare similar plants

American Pennyroyal has hairier stems, broader stalked leaves, and smaller flowers. Wild Mint has toothed leaves and denser flower whorls. Low Calamint combines narrow smooth-edged leaves with individually stalked axillary flowers.

A closer look

Flower details

Pale two-lipped corollas expand into rounded lobes. The slender flower stalk and ribbed tubular calyx are useful close-up details.

Leaves & stems

Stem leaves occur in opposite pairs and are narrow and nearly stalkless. Small leafy shoots in their axils can make the foliage look whorled.

Whole plant & habitat

Low stems form small patches. Plants are easily hidden among grasses, so close photographs help reveal their flowers and foliage.

Field photographs

6 photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it and browse the slideshow.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): close view of pale tubular flowers and narrow leaves. — Low Calamint: close view of pale tubular flowers and narrow leaves.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): two pale lavender flowers on slender stalks. — Low Calamint: two pale lavender flowers on slender stalks.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): slender flowering stems among grasses. — Low Calamint: slender flowering stems among grasses.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): pale flowers among narrow opposite leaves. — Low Calamint: pale flowers among narrow opposite leaves.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): flowering patch showing the low branching habit. — Low Calamint: flowering patch showing the low branching habit.

Low Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum): low patch of leafy stems and lavender flowers. — Low Calamint: low patch of leafy stems and lavender flowers.

Range & sightings

Native in North America. Native to southeastern Canada and parts of the central and eastern United States, including Wisconsin and Illinois.

Reported U.S. native distribution
AR, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV.

State distribution follows Kew and does not imply presence in every county. Garden plantings may occur beyond this list. Observation maps can include cultivated plants.

Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.

Keep learning

Practice recognizing Low Calamint in the flower quiz, or compare other plants in the guide.

Sources & further reading

Photographs: Where’s Wildlife.

Low Calamint