PROSTANTHERA. Mint bush. Australian shrubs with variably shaped, often pleasantly aromatic leaves and irregular bell- to trumpet shaped blossoms of various colors. They are generally quite rugged and combine well with other dryland shrubs. Sun, well drained soil, moderate to little watering when established. The following should all be hardy to 20oF or less.
denticulata. A spreading shrub, growing 2-3' high and 3-6' broad. It has bright green, slender stems and small—in this form also narrow—slightly crinkled leaves. In spring it carries masses of 1/2" purple flowers, paired along the stems near the shoot tips.
lasianthos. Victorian dogwood. A tall shrub or small tree, growing 10-20' tall. This unnamed selection from Duncan & Davies Nurseries has upswept branches well clothed in 2-4" pointed-oval leaves, deep green in color and satiny in texture. The flowers are about 1" across, white shaded with lilac. This is reputedly one of the easiest of the genus to grow.
ovalifolia “excellent purple”. We are trying to be faithful to the naming of plants as we receive them from the UCSC Arboretum. However, this fine selection could use something a little more exciting to convey the message. It is a bushy, slender-stemmed shrub, probably 5-6’ high and wide when mature. The leaves are narrow-oval in outline, as the name suggests, and deep green in color, set against light green stems. It flowers at every shoot tip in early spring, carrying masses of bright purple blossoms. Another cultivar, ‘Variegata’, is distinguished by creamy yellow leaf margins and has lavender flowers.
rotundifolia. Round-leaved mint bush. A variable species, usually round to erect-oval in form and growing at a moderate pace to 5’ or more. It is closely branched, and the slender twigs are thickly clad in small round, dark green leaves. Small clusters of 1/2" blossoms, purple in the typical form, are carried at all the shoot tips in spring. The selection ‘Ghost Cave’ has larger leaves and larger, very bright purple flowers. ‘Rosea’ features small, densely packed leaves and masses of pink flowers.