Prostanthera rotundifolia Mini Pink is a compact pink-flowered form of the much-loved Round-leaf Mint Bush, grown for its highly aromatic foliage, neat habit and beautiful spring display. This smaller-growing selection reaches around 1 metre high and 1 metre wide, making it ideal for pots, cottage-style native gardens, sensory gardens, pathways, courtyards and smaller mixed borders.

In spring, the plant produces a profusion of soft pink flowers over dense green foliage. Like other mint bushes, the leaves release a rich minty fragrance when brushed or lightly crushed, making ‘Mini Pink’ especially valuable near paths, seating areas and garden entrances.

This plant prefers moist, well-drained soil, with full sun to part shade and some protection from harsh summer exposure in hotter districts. It is reasonably hardy and frost tolerant, but performs best where its roots are kept cool and it receives occasional summer water during dry periods.

Flowers

• Profuse pink flowers in spring.
• Smaller-growing form with an excellent floral display for compact gardens.
• Flowers are attractive to native bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
• Provides soft seasonal colour in cottage-style native gardens and shaded borders.

Foliage

• Small rounded green leaves.
• Highly aromatic mint-scented foliage.
• Dense, compact habit to around 1 m high × 1 m wide.
• Excellent beside paths where the foliage can be brushed and enjoyed.

Cultivation

Soil:

Prefers moist, well-drained soil, ideally mildly acidic to neutral. Good drainage is important, particularly in humid climates or heavier soils. It can be grown in clay or loam where drainage is suitable.

Sunlight:

Grow in full sun to part shade. In hot or dry districts, provide some shelter from strong afternoon summer sun.

Watering:

Requires regular watering during establishment. In drier districts, provide summer water to prevent stress and maintain strong flowering growth.

Frost tolerance:

Frost tolerant once established, especially in a sheltered, well-drained position.

Drought tolerance:

Not a true dryland shrub. It can tolerate short dry periods once established, but performs best with consistent moisture and summer watering in dry conditions.

Pruning:

Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a dense, rounded shape. This plant responds well to pruning and can be kept compact.

Fertiliser:

Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in spring if required. Mulch well to maintain a cool, moist root zone.

Uses

• Compact shrub for small native gardens.
• Excellent in pots and containers with free-draining native potting mix.
• Ideal near paths, patios and seating areas for its aromatic foliage.
• Suitable for sensory gardens and cottage-style native gardens.
• Useful in lightly shaded borders and understorey plantings.
• Can be clipped as a low informal hedge.
• Attractive spring-flowering shrub for native bees and beneficial insects.

Habitat Value

Prostanthera rotundifolia ‘Mini Pink’ provides nectar and pollen resources for native bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other small pollinators during spring. Its dense foliage also gives shelter to small insects and contributes to a layered, habitat-friendly garden structure.

Because it flowers strongly in spring, it pairs well with summer and autumn-flowering native shrubs to extend seasonal food resources in wildlife gardens.

Hybrid / Cultivar Note

‘Mini Pink’ is a selected compact pink-flowered form of Prostanthera rotundifolia, rather than a naturally occurring wild species population.

Growing Tips

Plant in a well-drained position with reliable moisture, especially during summer. ‘Mini Pink’ is at its best where it receives morning sun or bright filtered light, with some shelter from intense afternoon heat.

Mulch around the root zone, keeping mulch clear of the stem, and prune after flowering to keep the plant dense and tidy. In pots, use a free-draining native potting mix and water regularly through warm weather.

Shipping Note

At Sylvaterre Native Nursery, every plant is treated with care and respect. Unlike many online nurseries that ship tubestock lying flat — often stacked on top of each other in standard Australia Post boxes — all Sylvaterre plants are shipped upright in custom-made cardboard plant boxes. This helps ensure they arrive healthy, happy, and ready to thrive in your garden or pots. See our shipping cartons in the image gallery.