Elsholtzia stauntonii

Chinese mint shrub is a relatively rare subshrub that makes an excellent addition to the late fall garden when its red-purple flower spikes burst into bloom. Leaves smell minty when rubbed, but this plant is not related to mint and does not exhibit invasive tendencies.

Peppermint tree can reach up to 6 feet high and wide in warm climates, but usually only reaches 2.5 feet in our zone 5 garden as it dies back to the ground every year.

Zones: 4 to 9

Family: Lamiaceae

Type: Deciduous Perennial

Height: 48 to 60 in.

Spread: 36 to 60 in.

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Condition: Dry, Well-drained

Bloom Time: September to October

Native Range: China

Image Credits:

• Image 1 (blooms) Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
• Image 2 (form) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
• Image 3 (foliage) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons