Sideritis scardica
Greek Mountain Tea
Common names: Greek Ironwort, Ischgebirgstee
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 30 cm, rows 40 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Mar–Apr
- Harvest
- Jul–Aug
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −10 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Daderot · Public Domain · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Greek Mountain Tea, botanically Sideritis scardica, originates from the mountainous regions of Greece, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, where it has been used as a tea herb for centuries. Its fine silvery leaves and yellow flower clusters also make it an attractive ornamental perennial for herb beds. The plant prefers dry, well‑drained soils and full sun; it rots quickly on wet, heavy soils. In mild climates it can survive winter outdoors, while in harsher regions a spot on a south‑facing wall or winter protection with straw is recommended.
Care instructions
Plant in full sun, wind‑protected location with lean, well‑drained soil; heavy clay soils should be amended with sand or gravel. Water sparingly, only when the soil has noticeably dried out, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. Fertilization is largely unnecessary; a light application of compost in spring is sufficient. After flowering, prune stems in late summer to keep growth compact and encourage new shoots next year. In regions with severe winters, cover the plant from November with straw or burlap, especially if it is young.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–Apr
HarvestJul–Aug
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 12 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 14 to 28 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, dry, lean, lime-loving
Greek mountain tea comes from stony, barren mountain sites and does not tolerate waterlogging. Choose a free-draining, rather poor soil with a proportion of sand or gravel, ideally with a little lime. You should avoid heavy, loamy or permanently damp soils, or improve them with drainage material.
Feeding
Light feeder
As a frugal wild plant from barren sites, mountain tea needs practically no feeding. Soil that is too rich even weakens the plant's aroma and hardiness. If anything, a thin layer of ripe compost around the root zone in spring is enough.
Overwintering
In milder areas and on free-draining soil, mountain tea usually comes through the winter well outdoors, especially if it is sheltered from wet. In harsh areas or on heavier soil, a loose covering of brushwood or leaves over the roots helps. In a container, the plant overwinters best in a bright, cool and frost-free place.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Division
Sowing is easiest in early spring on the windowsill, as the fine seeds need light to germinate and are only pressed down lightly. In summer, cut semi-ripe cuttings from healthy shoots and insert them into a poor, free-draining compost. Older, bushy clumps can be carefully divided in spring, and each piece should have roots of its own. Mountain tea roots most reliably with plenty of light and moderate moisture.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
particularly well establishedYou will find that basil next to tomato and pepper improves taste and keeps whiteflies and aphids away.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 14 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Greek Mountain Tea yourself
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