Photo: Melburnian, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Alpine Mint Bush

Prostanthera cuneata

Also known as Alpine Mint Bush, Mountain Mint Bush

At a glance

Family

Lamiaceae (mint family)

Type

Evergreen shrub

Parts used

Leaves (aromatic foliage), flowers

Size

Compact and dense, roughly 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Bloom

White to pale mauve flowers with purple-spotted throats, late spring into summer

Habitat

Alpine and subalpine heathland and rocky slopes of southeastern Australia, around 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation

Acquisition

Grow

This plant in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Fragrant, mint-scented foliage

Cold-hardy evergreen structure

Draws bees and pollinators

Neat, low-maintenance form

Traditional uses

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Alpine Mint Bush grows wild along the wind-scoured heathlands of the Victorian and New South Wales high country, where its small, leathery leaves release a sharp, eucalyptus-like mint fragrance the moment they are brushed or crushed. Gardeners prize it as one of the few members of its genus tough enough to shrug off hard frosts, which carried it out of the Australian alps and into cottage gardens and rockeries across cooler climates worldwide. Its documented history is more horticultural than medicinal, valued for generations simply as a hardy, sweetly scented hedge and border plant rather than as a healing herb.

Growing guide

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Sun

Full sun to light, dappled shade

Soil

Light, gritty, well-drained soil; it resents heavy, waterlogged ground

Water

Moderate water while establishing, then fairly drought tolerant, though it appreciates an occasional deep soak in hot spells

Planting

Set out in spring or fall, and trim lightly after flowering to keep the mounded shape tidy and encourage fresh new growth

Fresh to dried

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Harvest

Snip young stems any time of year for their scent, ideally in the cool of morning when the oils are strongest

Drying

Hang small bundles upside down in a warm, airy, shaded spot until the leaves are crisp

Storage

Keep dried leaves whole in an airtight jar out of direct light to preserve their minty fragrance

Best forms

Fresh crushed leaves for scent and garnish, dried leaves for potpourri or a light infusion

Traditional preparations

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Secondary preparation

Minty Garden Infusion

A simple, mild infusion enjoyed at home mainly for its fresh, minty aroma rather than any established remedy.

How it's made. Steep 1 teaspoon of fresh crushed leaves (or a scant half teaspoon dried) in 250 ml of just-boiled water for 5 minutes, then strain.

Pairs well with

✦Peppermint
✦Lemon balm
✦Eucalyptus leaf

Substitutes

✦Peppermint
✦Spearmint

Choose it when

“For the hardy little hedge that hands you a burst of mint every time you brush past it.”

Did you know?

Of all the mint bushes in the Prostanthera genus, most are too frost-tender to survive a hard winter outside Australia, but Alpine Mint Bush shrugged that reputation off entirely, which is exactly why it became a beloved hedge plant in cold British and American gardens where its cousins simply cannot grow.

Safety

Alpine mint bush is not documented as toxic and is commonly grown and handled without concern, though as with any aromatic plant, stop use if the crushed foliage irritates your skin.