Sultan is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family, up to 70 cm high. The stem is upright, four-sided and branched, while the leaves are short-stalked, opposite, egg-shaped with a toothed edge and dark green in color. The flowers are light purple gathered in a spike-like inflorescence 25 cm long, giving the plant a decorative appearance.
One of the most noticeable qualities of Sultan is its pronounced lemon scent, which makes it an excellent substitute for lemon balm and catnip. Leaves can be used in cooking - they add a fresh citrus flavor to dishes, drinks, and even alcoholic cocktails, such as vermouth. In folk medicine, Glechoma hederacea is valued for its calming and analgesic properties: an infusion helps with increased heart rate, neuritis, migraine, headache, and colds, while crushed leaves speed up the healing of purulent wounds. Additionally, the plant stimulates appetite and improves digestion.
Sultan is easy to grow in open ground: sowing is done in mid-May to early June, seeds germinate at 5-7 °C, and plants withstand prolonged cooling. In the initial growth period, high moisture levels are required; young seedlings are transplanted after 30-35 days according to a 30x50 cm scheme. Flowering occurs in July, and the harvest is usually collected at the beginning of flowering. Thanks to its light-loving nature and low soil requirements, Sultan is suitable for both gardening and vegetable beds.
