Common Name: Japanese shrub mint
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: September to October
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Colorful
Culture
Easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Best in light shade or morning sun. Leaf scorch will occur in locations with too much sun.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Leucosceptrum japonicum, commonly called Japanese shrub mint, is a woody-based herbaceous perennial that typically forms an attractive foliage mound to 2-3’ tall and as wide. It is native to Japan. Lanceolate to oblong leaves (3-6” long and to 3” wide) are slightly stellate-hairy when young. Tiny yellow flowers (each to 1/3” long) bloom in terminal bottlebrush-like spikes in fall (September-October).
Genus name comes from the Greek words leucos meaning white and skeptron meaning a rod in reference to the hoary plant stems.
Specific epithet from Latin means from Japan.
‘Golden Angel’ has golden foliage.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Borders. Informal plantings. Naturalize in shady areas.