From 2014 to 2016, the agronomic and phytochemical potential of two commercial accessions of calamint, one of Lesser Calamint (Clinopodium nepeta (L.) Kuntze) and one of Woodland Calamint (Clinopodium menthifolium (Host) Stace) was evaluated in the mountainous climatic conditions of the Swiss Alps. The production of dry whole plants has reached 4 tons/ha from the second year of cultivation. For both species, the essential oil content fluctuated between 1 and 1.5%, depending on the season and on the phenological stage of harvest. The major component of C. nepeta is pulegone (> 80%), and of C. menthifolium is carvone (33 to 38%). In collaboration with the industry, a study of the phenotypic and phytochemical variability of Swiss ecotypes of calamints would be desirable.
