Clinopodium acinos aka Basil Thyme

Clinopodium acinos, or basil thyme, belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its native range spans Europe to central Siberia and Iran. It is native to Britain and Ireland. The RHS lists Acinos arvensis as a synonym. That name appears in the Plants For A Future account. This small herb grows in temperate regions. Wild plants occupy sunny banks and open fields. These sites include chalk, gravel and sand.

Plants reach about 0.7 feet (0.2 metres) tall. They spread to about 1 foot (0.3 metres) across. Sources differ on how long individual plants live. Kew records an annual or biennial life cycle. Plants For A Future also describes a short-lived perennial form. Plants can renew themselves through self-sown seed where conditions suit them. Their low growth suits ground cover and planted beds. The herb has a faint scent that recalls thyme.

Plants For A Future gives July to August as flowering time. Seeds then ripen from August to September. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the plant is self-fertile. Leaves and flowering tops have food uses. People add the tops to salads or use them for flavour. Their mild scent makes them a weak substitute for thyme. The evidence gives no species-level details of flower colour or fruit shape.

Grow basil thyme in full sun and well-drained soil. It does not grow well in shade. Light, dry soil suits it best, with sand and alkaline conditions preferred. It also grows in loam and soil with few nutrients. Its reported pH range extends from mildly acid to strongly alkaline. Plants can grow in dry or moist soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. It also reports survival at temperatures down to at least −15°C. Sow seed in early spring under a cold frame. Direct sowing in April or May is another option.

Older herbal sources record uses for digestion, toothache and increased urine flow. These are traditional uses, not proof that treatments work. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for every person or pet. It lists no weed concern, though plants may self-sow. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.