Himalayan Mint Shrub (Colquhounia coccinea) is a stunning semi-evergreen shrub from the mint family that brings unexpected drama to temperate gardens with its scarlet flowers blooming from July through September. Native to the Himalayan slopes, this soft-wooded shrub grows 6 to 10 feet tall and wide in mild climates, though spring pruning keeps it to a more manageable 4 to 6 feet. Hardy in zones 7 through 9, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and rewards low-maintenance gardeners with showy, pollinator-attracting blooms and resilience to serious pests or diseases.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
120in H x 120in W
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Moderate
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Colquhounia coccinea produces brilliant scarlet flowers on squared stems throughout the peak summer and early fall months, drawing butterflies and other pollinators into the garden with magnetic appeal. The plant's soft-wooded, somewhat sprawling habit gives it a relaxed, naturalistic presence that softens borders and hedgerows. Its semi-evergreen foliage and minimal pest pressure make it a genuinely trouble-free addition to gardens where winter protection from harsh winds is possible.
Himalayan Mint Shrub is primarily grown as an ornamental hedge or shrub border, valued for its showy summer and fall flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. Its semi-evergreen foliage and moderate spread make it useful for creating living screens or focal points in mixed shrub plantings.
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Propagate from cuttings taken in summer; root these cuttings and plant outdoors in spring after the last frost date in a protected, sheltered location. Space plants 6 to 10 feet apart to allow for their mature spread.
Prune stems back in spring as needed to maintain desired shape and size. For container-grown plants north of zone 7, cut stems back by half after the first fall frost. Annual spring pruning typically keeps the plant at 4 to 6 feet tall, even though it can reach 6 to 10 feet in mild climates. Note that stems may die back to the ground during cold winters; prune away dead wood in spring and new growth will emerge.
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“This Himalayan native was discovered on the slopes, stony grassy hillsides, thickets, river valleys, and occasionally forested areas of the Himalayas, where it evolved to handle the region's challenging alpine conditions. Its journey to Western gardens reflects the Victorian era's fascination with mountain plants from Asia, though it remains less common than many of its mint family cousins. The plant earned its common name from its dual heritage: the geographic origins in the Himalayas and its membership in the mint family, Lamiaceae.”