Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Orthosiphon aristatus
Cat's Whiskers
The flowers of Orthosiphon aristatus are the reason for the name: white or pale lilac, with stamens that stand 30 millimetres clear of the petals like a set of whiskers, carried in upright spikes above the foliage for most of the year in a warm climate.
It is a soft-wooded shrub of about a metre, fast to establish and easy to keep dense, used in mass bedding and mixed borders across tropical Asia, where it is also long-established as the herbal tea known as Java tea.
Specifications
- Height0.6 to 1.2 metres
- Width0.6 to 1 metre
- Native toSouth East Asia, southern China, northern Australia and the Pacific Islands
- FoliageOvate, coarsely toothed mid-green leaves on square stems; evergreen in warm climates
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils
- LightFull sun to partial shade
- WaterModerate to regular; performs best with steady moisture
- ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical regions
Additional Features
- FlowersUpright spikes of white or pale lilac flowers with long protruding stamens, carried through most of the year
- UsesMass bedding, mixed borders, park and hotel planting, containers and herb gardens
- SpacingPlant 0.5 to 0.6 metres apart for a continuous mass
- Low MaintenancePinch and cut back after each flush to keep plants dense and flowering
- Pest ResistanceGenerally straightforward; watch for whitefly in still humid air
- Wildlife AttractionFlowers are worked by bees and butterflies
- Cultural SignificanceLong used across South East Asia as the herbal infusion known as Java tea
Cat's Whiskers gives an unusual flower form and a very long season in a plant that is easy to mass and easy to renew.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026