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October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint

Leucosceptrum stellipilum 'October Moon'

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October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint (Leucosceptrum stellipilum 'October Moon') at Lakeshore Garden Centres

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint flowers

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  3 feet

Spacing:  18 inches

Sunlight:  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Description:

This marvelous selection of shrub mint is great to brighten up a shaded garden; an upright mound of fuzzy, dark green leaves with chartreuse edges, producing short, upright purple-pink spikes in mid fall; adaptable, and tolerant of heat and humidity

Ornamental Features

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint has attractive lime green foliage edged in chartreuse on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The serrated oval leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall colour. It features dainty spikes of pink flowers with purple overtones at the ends of the branches from early to mid fall.

Landscape Attributes

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It has a low canopy. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

October Moon Japanese Shrub Mint makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features