Ocimum labiatum – Pink Sage Bush, Shell Bush – 5 Seed Pack

Ocimum labiatum, commonly known as Pink Sage Bush or Shell Bush, is a stunning drought-hardy ornamental shrub which thrives in full sun or partial shade, flowering prolifically from early summer to late autumn. The pink sage is a fast-growing, many branched, semi-deciduous shrub with aromatic heart-shaped leaves. It grows to a height and spread of 1.5m. It occurs on rocky hillsides with a scattered distribution through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, into the northern provinces of South Africa and further into Zimbabwe. This plant was previously known as Orthosiphon labiatus. The specific epithet labiatum, meaning lipped, is a reference to the prominent lips of the flower. Ocimum labiatum belongs to the very large, internationally distributed sage family, the Lamiaceae, widely cultivated for its herbal properties. This family includes many important herbs such as mint, rosemary and sage. It is useful for mass planting in large areas such as parks or large flower beds as it makes a wonderful display when used in this manner. For the smaller garden it can be planted in small groups or individually as part of a mixed backdrop or as a shrubby border under trees. The pink sage is also useful for attracting butterflies to the garden.