Prostanthera sericea
silky mint bush
An erect, evergreen shrub to 2m tall with narrow, cylindrical leaves up to 5cm long; branches and leaves both covered with silvery-green hairs. From spring into early summer, clusters of white to pale purple flowers are borne at the ends of branches
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | White Purple | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | White Purple | Green | ||
Autumn | Green | |||
Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Prostanthera are bushy evergreen shrubs with small, dark green, highly aromatic leaves and terminal panicles or racemes of cup-shaped white blue or purple flowers in late spring or early summer
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Grow outdoors only in a frost-free environment with moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Prune after flowering; hard pruning may be detrimental
Propagation
Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 8 after flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.