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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 gray-green 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. 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.
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.
This information about Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate 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 that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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