About Ballota nigra L.
Ballota nigra L. produces a very strong, characteristic odor that resembles mould or damp soil. It can be identified by its clusters of hairy, reddish-purple flowers. This plant can grow up to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) tall. Ballota nigra is a nitrophilous plant. It grows in ruins, fallow fields, and hedgerows, at elevations up to 1,300 meters (4,300 feet). It prefers loose, calcareous (alkaline) soils, and can tolerate temperatures as low as -5° to -10 °C. The plant is typically used when dry, and is harvested during its blooming period. Syrups can also be made from fresh Ballota nigra plants.
