Prostanthera aspalathoides

Prostanthera aspalathoides
Prostanthera aspalathoides 'Bright Spark'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Prostanthera
Species:	P. aspalathoides
Binomial name
Prostanthera aspalathoides A.Cunn. ex Benth. [1]

Prostanthera aspalathoides, commonly known as Scarlet Mint-bush, is a shrub that is native to south-eastern Australia ^[2] It has a compact habit, growing to between 0.3 and 1 metre high. The aromatic leaves are terete to linear-elliptic in shape and are 1.5 to 6 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide.^[2][3] Flowers occur throughout the year, but are most profuse in late spring.^[3] These are solitary and axillary, forming a tube that is 8 to 11 mm long and may be coloured red, pink-red, orange or yellow.^[2]

The species was formally described by botanist Allan Cunningham in 1834 based on plant material collected in the vicinity of the Lachlan River in New South Wales^[1] It occurs in New South Wales and Victoria and South Australia.^[1] The specific epithet alludes to a similarity to plants of the genus Aspalathus.^[4]

Prosthanthera aspalthioides is best adapted to cultivation in dry conditions with low humidity. Plants prefer a position in full sun or partial shade with good drainage and withstand moderate frost.^[4][3]

Cuttings are the preferred propagation method, as seed germinates slowly. Plants may also be grafted on roostocks of the hardier species Prostanthera nivea.^[4]

References