Victorian Christmas Bush

Photographer - John Broomfield Source - Museum Victoria

Prostanthera lasianthos

This is a compact large, fast growing shrub or small tree growing up to 4m. The leaves have a minty aroma when crushed.

It forms a spectacular summer flowering shrub with white or pink flowers.

Many of the aromatic Prostanthera have been used by aboriginal people to treat rheumatism. A narrow trench is lined with leaves and filled with hot rocks. Once the leaves are hot, the rocks are removed and the patient put in the trench and covered with more leaves and warm sand.

This species is also known as Coranderrk (Wurrundjeri) and the stems were used as fire sticks.