Chinese Coin

This is an undeservedly relatively unknown, but beautiful and late-blooming subshrub. The plant smells of mint and originates from Northern China. Its abundant flowering begins in August and continues into autumn with long purple/pink spikes 15 to 18 cm long. Insects and butterflies love to visit this late bloomer! They can grow to a height of 120-150 cm and prefer sunny and sheltered locations. Prune them back significantly every spring. The young leaves give salads a unique, fresh touch due to the mix of caraway, mint, and lime aromas. You can mix older leaves into tea for a pleasant mint experience.

All mint varieties grow in sun or shade. In the sun, the most compact growth and the most intense color, scent, and flavor develop. Each variety goes through two growth stages: in spring, there's a growth spurt upwards for flowering. After that, horizontally (vigorously) growing runners emerge, which develop into new plants elsewhere. Bees and butterflies love mint flowers.

Names:
Latin: Elsholtzia stauntonii
Dutch: Chinese munt
English: Mint Shrub, Chinese Mint