Prostanthera lasianthos

RHS Plant Profile
Victoria Christmas bush

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Other common names

Victoria dogwood, Victorian dogwood, Victorian mint tree, Australian lilac, Australian mint tree

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Shrubs
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A variable, tall or oval-shaped shrub to 4m, with narrowly ovate, strongly menthol-scented leaves. In late spring or early summer it bears branched clusters of scented, finely hairy white or pale purple flowers, 2cm across, with purple or orange markings in the throat

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical 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
Plant Range
Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. When in growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; water sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun at the base of a warm wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown at 13-18°C in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

See pruning group 8

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