Lesser calamint is a perennial shrub, forming a compact mound of shiny, green oregano-like leaves.

[3] The lesser calamint smells like a cross between mint and oregano.

[1] Three subspecies are recognized:[1] Lesser calamint is commonly used as an herb in the Italian and Corsican cuisine, where it is called nepita, mentuccia, nipitella or nepitella.

[5] Some sources state that Nepeta nepetella can be used in cooking like the lesser calamint.

[6] It's used to aromatize boiled chestnuts along with other herbs in Galicia, Northwest Spain.