Agastache

How to plant, grow and maintain Agastache (Hyssop or Hummingbird Mint), a showy, fragrant group of perennial herbs loved by hummingbirds and butterflies alike.

Agastache x 'Ava'
Item # 11821 		Agastache 'Ava'
Ava's Hummingbird Mint

each $9.79
3 to 6 $9.59
7 or more $9.29
Agastache x 'Black Adder'
Item # 11814 		Agastache 'Black Adder'
Black Adder Hyssop

each $7.99
3 to 6 $7.79
7 or more $7.59
Agastache x 'Blue Fortune'
Item # 11830 		Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
Blue Fortune Hybrid Hyssop

each $7.99
3 to 6 $7.79
7 or more $7.59
Agastache Sampler Collection
Item # 99511 		Agastache Sampler
Hummingbird Mint Collection

each $37.25
  • Topic: Agastache
  • Author: David Salman
  • Keywords: planting, perennial, hummingbirds, Perennials, agastaches
  • Date: June 2005

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(Hummingbird Mint or Hyssop)

Xeriscape Lavender Companions

The Agastache are a showy, fragrant group of perennial herbs. The greatest concentration of Agastache species is found in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, with the remaining species found scattered across the U.S., Europe and Asia. All of them have nectar rich flowers.

The orange and pink-flowered ones are highly attractive to hummingbirds, while the blue-flowered ones are a favorite of butterflies and bees. If you grow lavender and penstemon successfully, you will enjoy growing Agastache as well.

To improve winter hardiness, leave the stems on the plants over the winter. In mid-spring, cut the dead stems off about 4 or 5 inches above ground level. In zone 5 & 6 areas of the country with wet winters, the southwestern species are best planted on sunny south or west facing slopes or in raised beds with sandy, fast-draining soil. The plant’s crown should be planted high and then mulched with crushed gravel to keep it drier during cold, wet weather.

Planting

They need ‘lean,’ well-drained soils, prefer gravel mulches and appreciate deep but infrequent watering after their second growing season.

Maintenance

Improve winter-hardiness and encourage re-seeding by leaving the stems intact over the winter. Remove old stems just above the new foliage in spring. Fertilize once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II.

Non-western Regions

In areas with cold, wet winter, plant on sunny south or west-facing slopes or in raised beds. Sandy, infertile soils are a must!. Plant the crown high and mulch with 2” of very coarse sand or small gravel. ‘Blue Fortune’ and Korean hyssop are best varieties for higher rainfall areas east of Mississippi.