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Prostanthera rotundifolia

Common name:	Mint Bush	Family:	Labiatae
Author:	R.Br.	Botanical references:	11, 154, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat:	Sheltered hillsides, usually in sylvan habitats[152, 154]. Sandy soils over sandstone on rainforest edges and sheltered spots in sclerophyll forest[260].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	rotundifolia = round leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Lamiales. Renamed to Lamiaceae -- Mint family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 4.5m by 3m . It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower in May. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antibacterial Antifungal Carminative.

The plant is rich in volatile oils, including menthol and cineole (as found in the mints, Mentha spp.)[238]. The leaves are antibacterial, antifungal and carminative[152, 154, 238]. They are used externally in the treatment of colds and headaches[238]. Presumably the leaves are infused in a bowl of hot water and the vapour inhaled[K].

Other Uses

Essential Pot-pourri.

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is medicinal[154]. The leaves yield up to 0.7% of the oil[154].
The dried leaves are used in pot-pourri[238].

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position in a well drained soil and does not thrive on shallow chalky soils[11, 200]. Prefers a humus-rich lime-free soil[182].
This species only succeeds outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[182]. It is hardy to at least -7° c in Australian gardens[157] though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. It does succeed outdoors in various places in &ndndndnd[1, 59], though it is probably best on a wall even there[11].
A short-lived plant, but it can be grafted onto the roots of Westringia fruticosa which allows it to be grown in less favourable conditions and also probably increases its life span[11, 157].
Plants are very tolerant of light trimming[K], but dislike hard pruning[238]. Any trimming is best carried out immediately after flowering[238].
Both leaves and flowers have a minty aroma[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[200].The seed usually germinates within a few weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed remains viable for 2 - 3 years in normal storage[154].
Cuttings of soft-wood in early summer in a frame. They root readily[11].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers have a minty aroma[245].
Leaves: Crushed: The leaves have a mint-like aroma[245].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[59] Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in &ndndndnd.
Trees and shrubs that succeed in &ndndndnd based on the authors own observations. Good but rather dated.

[152] Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.
A very good and readable guide to the subject.

[154] Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.

[157] Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0
A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[260] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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