Magnificent prostanthera

Appearance

''Prostanthera magnifica'' is a slender, to spreading, erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.4–2.5 m and has slightly flattened, more or less hairy branches. The leaves are elliptic to narrow egg-shaped, 15–44 mm long and 5–10 mm wide on a petiole 1–4 mm long. The flowers are arranged in bunches of six to eighteen near the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel 2.5–6 mm long. The sepals are dark mauve to purple, forming a tube 2–4 mm long with two prominent, egg-shaped lobes, the lower lobe 4–10 mm long and 4–8 mm wide, the upper lobe 15–26 mm long and 10–23 mm wide. The petals are pale mauve or pale blue to pink with dark purple spots, 16–25 mm long forming a tube 15–20 mm long with two lips. The central lobe of the lower lip is 4–7.5 mm long and 2.5–7 mm wide and the side lobes 4–6 mm long and 2–5.5 mm wide. The upper lip is 4–8 mm long and 2.5–5 mm wide with a central notch 1–2 mm deep. Flowering occurs from August to November.

Distribution

Magnificent prostanthera grows on granite outcrops, ironstone hills and rock crevices in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of Western Australia.

Status

This mintbush is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Habitat

Magnificent prostanthera grows on granite outcrops, ironstone hills and rock crevices in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of Western Australia.

Cultural

''Prostanthera magnifica'' prefers a sunny or partly shaded position in well-drained soil. It is sensitive to both frost and humidity. Propagation is successful from both seed and cuttings, though seed germination is slow. Grafting is often used to produce a longer-living plant with rootstocks including ''Westringia fruticosa'' and ''Prostanthera striatiflora''. The latter gives rise to plants with a longer flowering period and less unwanted growth below the graft.