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Products > Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata'
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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Purple |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 3-5 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' (Variegated Mint Bush) - An erect evergreen shrub with a soft-texture that grows 4 to 6 feet tall by 3 to 5 feet wide. The oval leaves with a nice cream variegation around the margins are pleasantly aromatic and an abundance of small tubular purple flowers bloom at the branch tips on a branched inflorescence in the spring. Plant in sun or part shade with regular watering to occasional irrigation - tolerates being allowed to wilt and responds rapidly to added water for useful as an indicator plant for when the garden is dry. An attractive and fairly fast growing plant that is great for "lightening up" a dark area in the garden. It is dense and can be used as a low screening plant - annual tip pruning will keep plant tighter. We initially described it with the dimensions of the species, which we use to also grow, but this variegated cultivar has proven to remain considerably smaller, about half the size of the species. The species comes from inland areas of New South Wales and southern Queensland. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'prostheke' meaning "an appendix" and 'anthera' meaning an "anther" in reference to the an appendage on the stamens. The specific epithet refers to the rounded oval leaves. We first put this plant into production in 2000 from plants purchased from Suncrest Nursery but the plant made its way into cultivation in the US from a plant brought back from Australia in 1992 by bay area Australian plant specialist Kathy Echols.
The information about Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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