Steinquendel (actually Alcinos as a botanical name, but often under Calaminthen, the old name) is an evergreen, herbaceous plant that convinces with its numerous small flowers and its peppermint-like scent. There are numerous different types. On average, Steinquendel becomes about 50 cm high. Some species lignify a bit from below. Steinquendel belongs to the mint family. Its scent is really strong, especially when touched. The flowering period is quite long, from midsummer until well into autumn, and it is very easy to care for. Thus, the stone quendula is one of the recommended scented plants for the garden. Insects love these plants. You will always be buzzed by numerous species of bees, hoverflies, bumblebees, wasps and butterflies.
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Suitable plant neighbors
The plants are good companions to roses, are suitable for dry wood edges, rock gardens, beds, borders and especially next to those perennials that have faded early in the year, e.g. irises or spur flowers. The stone quendel is very popular in farm, natural and wild gardens.
Of course, the different species also have different properties. Some fall apart a little, others reproduce quite vigorously through self-sowing, while others do not at all. It is best to ask about the corresponding type and variety and their properties when buying. Depending on where you buy, you will get more unsatisfactory answers.
Some types of stone quendel are suitable for herbal teas and herbal mixtures. The herb is harvested between July and August, preferably before flowering. The tea is said to help with digestive disorders, nervous tension, insomnia and depression. But pregnant women should do without!
species
- Alpen-Steinquendel – especially widespread in the alpine region, large purple flowers, flatter plant, only up to 20 cm high, loves lime, needs barren, stony soil, ideal for rock gardens, is also often used as a substitute for lawns
- Feld-Steinquendel – rather small flowers, also smaller permanent plants, only 10 to 30 cm high, prostrate and ascending stems, blue-purple flowers from June to September
- Calamintha grandiflora – pink flowers, light green leaves, becomes about 30 cm high, flowers from June to October
- Calamintha nepeta ‘Weißer Riese’ – large, white flowers, light green leaves, becomes about 40 cm high, flowering period July to October, together extremely from
- Calamintha nepeta ‘Lila Riese’ – large lavender flowers, medium green leaves, 40 to 50 cm high, flowering period from July to September, all together
- Calamintha nepeta ‘Blue Cloud’ – blue-violet small flowers, flowering June to August and October, 40 to 60 cm high, sows heavily
- Calamintha nepeta ssp. Nepeta – small, white-delicate purple flowers, light green leaves, becomes about 30 cm high, flowering period June to October
- Calamintha nepeta generativ – light blue flowers, medium green leaves, hairy, becomes about 40 cm high, flowering period July to October, sows itself
The care of Steinquendel
Steinquendel is easy to care for and, above all, frost hardy. Although the plant comes from southern Europe or North Africa, it usually comes well over winter in our country. These plants can get old, 10 years is normal and 20 years is not uncommon. You can always leave them in the same place. Transplanting is not necessary. Division does not seem to be advisable, too many plants are destroyed. Otherwise the Steinquendel hardly needs to be poured. Fertilizing once a year is sufficient. It has to be cut once, sometimes it is advisable to cut immediately after flowering to encourage the plant to re-bloom. Otherwise this plant does hardly any work, develops from year to year into a more impressive flowering plant and enchants us with its scent.
location
The location should be nice and sunny and warm. That is a prerequisite for Steinquendel to thrive. The more sun the plant gets, the better it will thrive. Sun is needed for growth and flower formation. The less sun, the fewer flowers will develop.
- Sunny to full sun
- Short periods of shadow are tolerated, long periods are extremely unfavorable
Plant substrate
The stone quendel makes few demands on the plant substrate, but the individual species differ from time to time. The alpine stone quendel, for example, likes very dry and also stony substrate. Many other species love it not that dry, better a bit fresh. So you should inquire about it when buying.
- Sandy, very well drained soils
- Still fresh substrate that should not dry out completely
- Some species, such as the Alpine stone whale, like calcareous soil
- They can also cope with stony substrates
plant
There is not much to consider when planting. It is beneficial to immerse the root ball in water until it is completely soaked and no more air bubbles rise. The planting hole must be sufficiently deep. One has to note that some species “lie down”. From a certain height, the stems bend slightly and the plant lays down, usually forwards. So it can take up space up to 40 cm from the actual planting hole. That has to be planned.
- The ideal planting time is from March to October
- Planting distance 35 cm
- Good in groups of between 3 and 5 plants
- It is best not to transplant the stone quendula too often, the plant does not particularly like that. Choose the place wisely and then let it grow in peace.
Watering and fertilizing
There is little work to do with watering the Steinquendel. A dry location is not a problem. Once grown, the stone quendel can do without water for weeks, although that is of course not ideal. Sagging leaves are a sign of a lack of water and should not be ignored. Then a vigorous dose of water is necessary. Fertilizing is not a problem either. One application of fertilizer a year is usually sufficient.
- Do not water in direct sunlight!
- It is better to water in the morning or in the evening
- It is best to fertilize in spring
- Long-term fertilizers for flower plants are safest
- You can use both organic and mineral fertilizers, or a combination of both.
To cut
Stone curd doesn’t need to be cut a lot. Usually it is sufficient to cut off the entire plant close to the ground at a height of about 10 cm after winter. It then reliably drives out again. But I’ve also read about species that should be cut back after flowering, also about 5 to 10 cm high, so that they can drive a second flower, so to speak a second flower.
For the species that have a large number of seeds, it generally makes sense to cut off the flowers after they have withered so that no seeds can develop. This prevents the stone whorl from spreading throughout the garden.
Overwinter
The Steinquendel is usually sufficiently winter hardy on well drained soils. Only frost in combination with moisture bother the plants. I have found no evidence that Stonefall needs protection. The plant sprouts out of the rhizome in spring and actually survives the winter very reliably.
Multiply
The propagation is possible in different ways, by sowing, propagating cuttings and by dividing the rhizome. Some species of stone whelk have a tendency to self-sow and can reproduce heavily. If you don’t want that, you have to watch out for species and varieties that don’t. When buying on the Internet, the description of some varieties states that they are sterile plants.
Cuttings
- Is a cheap way of propagation because you get identical plants. So you know what to expect. When sowing, no identical specimens are created and it can happen that plants that have not previously self-seeded suddenly spread strongly.
- Must be cut before the flower buds appear. They no longer take root with buds.
- Put into a well drained, very sandy substrate and water
- Keep the substrate a little moist, never too wet
- It is a good idea to put a bag over the vessel, so that the rooting works better
- Don’t forget to air it so that mold does not form
Share in spring
- Division is possible, but probably not recommended. The plants are usually never as beautiful as they were before the division and I have read about many who mucked away for a long time. Some have also died. Using cuttings is definitely the better method.
Sowing under glass
- Cover the seeds only lightly with soil
- It is also sufficient to just press it onto the substrate
- Germination at around 20 ° C after around 7 to 14 days
Diseases and pests
The Steinquendel is considered to be very robust and resistant to diseases. Pests are deterred by the essential oils in the plant. If the plant is cared for incorrectly, it can lead to diseases. Too wet a location quickly leads to the otherwise robust plant saying goodbye.
Conclusion
The Steinquell is a garden plant that blooms in size and is particularly noticeable because of its strong fragrance. You smell it mainly after being touched, but that’s no different with other garden herbs such as rosemary or thyme. All in all, these are easy-care and grateful plants that are particularly good companions for roses. The fragrances complement each other sensibly. If you are looking for a flowering plant for a dry, sunny location, I can only recommend Steinquendel. There is one caveat. The varieties that multiply by self-sowing are not that ideal. You have to be careful with them that seeds cannot form in the first place. Then they are also completely suitable. You just have to know that they reproduce themselves.
