Sideritis syriaca

Mountain Tea, in Latin Sideritis syriaca, is a perennial aromatic and medicinal plant. It forms small, very low tufts and has small, woolly, silver-grey, aromatic, evergreen leaves. In late spring, the cushion comes alive with small, light yellow flowers grouped in spikes. Leaves, stems, and especially dried flowers have been used by shepherds in the Cretan mountains who prepare an invigorating and fragrant herbal tea, sweetened with honey and lemon. This Greek tea is both a preferred plant for dry rock gardens and arid areas of the garden and one of the gems of the simple garden.

Endemic to Crete, Sideritis syriaca spontaneously grows on rocks and limestone scree, between 1200 (1320) and 2000m (2187 yards) above sea level. It is a botanical species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, just like thyme, savoury, and oregano. This perennial plant develops into a tuft of 10-15 cm (4-6in) in height and 30-40 cm (12-16in) in spread. Its stump slightly suckers, so it can spread to form groundcover. The narrow, elongated leaves are covered with a woolly down that gives them a lovely silver-grey colour. When crushed, they give off a fresh, peppery smell. The flowering occurs in May-June. It takes the form of flower spikes 40 cm (16in) high adorned with very small bilabiate flowers in light yellow with acid green bracts, which are very bright. This flowering, like that of all plants in the Lamiaceae family, attracts numerous pollinators. Extremely resistant to summer drought, this Greek mountain tea can also withstand short freezes of around -15°C (5°F).

Sideritis syriaca is primarily a beautiful plant for sunny and dry, poor, rocky soil, valuable for gardens near the sea or Mediterranean regions without irrigation. It finds its place in rock gardens, gravel beds, with aromatic plants, or even as an edging along a pathway. It can be associated with thyme, shrubby salvias, marjoram (Origanum majorana), compact lavenders, savory, teucrium, low cistus, and other santolines to evoke the scrubland in a dry area of the garden. One of the charms of this type of arrangement lies in the scents emitted by all these plants after a hot day: they blend into a complex fragrance to be enjoyed with closed eyes: intense, captivating, it constitutes the quintessence of the Mediterranean countryside.

Properties and uses:

Sideritis syriaca has been known since antiquity as a medicinal plant and is still used as a beverage or remedy in Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania. Delicious invigorating herbal tea is prepared with the flowers and leaves. Harvest the flower spikes and leaves during the flowering period and hang them to dry in a dark and well-ventilated place. Infuse, like tea, and serve with a little lemon juice and honey. This mountain tea is attributed with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and immune system stimulating properties.