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.

Prostanthera ovalifolia 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 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 web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens 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 with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.