Cut Leaf Mint (Prosanthera incisa) in flower

Cut Leaf Mint (Prosanthera incisa) is one of our favourite Native plants.

This plant is commonly called Cut Leaf Mint, Native Thyme (not to be confused with Ocimum tenuiflorum or the closely related P. rotundifolia which also have that same common name) or Native Mint (I know, there’s a couple of those too…).

We love to grow it because of its strong odour, even just passing a hand through a bush is enough to get that minty smell around you for an hour or so.

Cut Leaf Mint is easy to grow and tolerates the Aussie Sun quite well. Regular harvesting of leaves and stem help to keep its low, bushy shape. Without this, Cut Leaf Mint can get really straggly and unkempt.

Herbally, Cut Leaf Mint shares many of the characteristics of others in the same family.

Its strong oil can be used as an antiseptic and antibiotic or antifungal, we can use the tea to help settle the stomach or clear a blocked up nose. The pleasant smell can help clear the mind and settle minor anxiety. The oils in the stem and leaves are easily distilled and easy drawn out in hot water, so it can be easily prepared at home.

So, if you’re looking for a tough Native plant with a pleasant smell, beautiful flowers and can be used as an herbal remedy, you can’t go past Cut Leaf Mint (Prosanthera incisa) unless you get P. rotundifolia) which I’ll cover in a little while.