Prostanthera cuneata
alpine mint bush
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
- Flowering period: June to August
- Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection)
An Australian native, this is a compact, aromatic, evergreen shrub with small, lustrous rounded leaves. From June to August, clusters of tubular, pure white flowers with distinctive purple and yellow markings appear. It is ideal for a sheltered, sunny, mixed or shrub border and looks particularly good among silver-leaved plants or strappy phormiums. - Garden care: After flowering lightly trim or prune any shoot that spoils the symmetry of the plant. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3inch) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant.