Greek Mountain Tea Mint is a frost-hardy perennial herb native to the mountainous Balkan peninsula, prized for brewing a mellow, minty herbal tea. Known scientifically as Sideritis scardica and also called ironwort, this low-growing sub-shrub reaches just 15 inches tall with striking silvery, sword-shaped leaves that have a slightly fuzzy texture. It thrives in zones 7 through 11, asking little more than full sun and well-draining soil to reward you with years of delicious, pollinator-attracting foliage.
18
Full Sun
Low
7-11
?in H x ?in W
—
Low
Hover over chart points for details
This Balkan native grows into a compact, silvery-leaved sub-shrub that looks as beautiful in the garden as it tastes in the teacup. The long, fuzzy sword-shaped leaves are distinctly ornamental, bringing texture and a soft gray tone to sunny spots. Surface-sown seeds sprout in just 10 to 14 days at moderate temperatures, and once established, the plant handles cold winters and drought with ease. Few herbs offer such a striking appearance alongside genuine culinary purpose.
Greek Mountain Tea Mint is grown primarily for brewing herbal tea. The leaves are harvested, dried, and steeped to create a mellow, minty infusion that reflects the plant's mountain origins. Beyond tea, the plant also serves as a living garden pollinator magnet, attracting bees and other beneficial insects with its delicate flowers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors on the soil surface at temperatures between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, where they will germinate in 10 to 14 days. Keep the seed bed consistently moist but not waterlogged until seedlings emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date, spacing them 18 inches apart in a location with full sun exposure.
Direct sow seeds on the soil surface where you want plants to grow, pressing them gently into place. Keep the area moist until seedlings are established.
Harvest leaves and flowering stems for tea throughout the growing season once the plant is well-established. Pick fresh foliage in the morning after dew has dried for the best flavor. For drying, cut stems just before or during flowering, tie them in bundles, and hang upside down in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight until completely dry, then strip the leaves from the stems.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Greek Mountain Tea Mint is endemic to the mountainous regions of the Balkan peninsula, where it has grown wild for centuries in high-altitude terrain. The plant earned the common name ironwort for its resilience in harsh mountain climates. This heirloom variety carries within it the genetic memory of rocky slopes and cool nights, making it one of the toughest and most authentic herbal teas of the Mediterranean region.”