Mexican Giant Hyssop Agastache rupestris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-GAH-sta-kee ru-PE-stris
- Description
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Long-lasting blooms on this compact plant attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Its foliage is licorice-scented, which is great to deter deer. This plant, once established, is drought tolerant. The bloom season extends from summer into fall. Does best in a drier climate and may have problems in high humidity areas.
Plant in sandy to rocky soils with very good drainage or in a pot or raised bed. This plant will not survive the winter in wet heavy soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agastache
- Species:
- rupestris
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SW USA
- Distribution:
- AZ & NM on cool mountain slopes 5000' to 7000' elevation
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies; deters deer
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer, drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Burnt orange tubular 2-lipped flowers with purplish calyxes on a 10-12 inch spike. Blooms all summer. Deadhead for a fall repeat bloom.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are narrow, gray-green, lance to linear shape with a licorice scent.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Square green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought