Versatile mint bush

Press, 13 December 1985, Page 14

Versatile mint bush

Prostantheras have enjoyed a vintage flowering season this spring. Well known by their collective name of (Australian) mint bush, these hardy, and fairly easy to grow, evergreen shrubs have gained an unfortunate reputation of being short-lived. Given a reasonably sunny aspect, poor to average soil, good drainage, and some moisture especially during the summer months, will help considerably towards prolonging their useful existence.

However, the major contribution in this respect is to prune them as soon as they have finished flowering, which will also help to keep them dense and compact. As they are not deep rooted avoiding cultivation in their immediate vicinity will also increase their life span.

Grafting on to a close relative, Westringia, which is often mistaken for Pros-

tanthera, has infused greater durability into such specimebs. Apart from,the ability to produce a profusion of attractive blooms, most species of Prostanthera have scented foliage noticeable when the leaves are crushed 'or following a warm drizzle when the air in the immediate vicinity becomes lightly infused with their scent.

Although the most predominant colour of the flowers of the seventy-odd species of Prostanthera is mauve, and shades of mauve, blue, white, red, yellow and even green flowered plants are to be found amongst them. Only a very limited number of species, and a few forms, have been available so far but the range may increase with demand and popularity.

indications of this are shown by the response to the most recent release of Prostanthera ovalifolia “Variegata,” a : mauve flowered ’ form with small, lanceolate, variegated leaves. •'

Other available species include P.aspalathoides (red flowers), P.cuneata (white) P.incisa (violet), P.nivea (white), P.rotundifolia (violet) and P.rotundifolia “Rosea” (pink).