Hummingbird Mint Agastache
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hummingbird Mint:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ag-ah-STA-kee
- Description
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This is a Genus of about 22 species of herbaceous perennials in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and most are native to North America and many from the southwest and Mexico. There are two subdivisions with one group native to North America and another native to Asia. The Genus name is from ancient Greek meaning "very much" and "ear of grain' describing the flower spikes.
Well-drained soils are essential for these plants and wet winter feet in poorly drained soil will do them in. Plant in a raised bed or container if needed in full sun. Choose a species that tolerates southeast summers best such as 'Blue Fortune', 'Blue Boa' or the Acapulco® group.
They are showy, fragrant, long-blooming perennials with spikes of flowers that bloom most of the summer. Colors range from white to blue and shades of red and purple. Giant Hyssops are essential for a pollinator-friendly garden and have excellent resistance to browsing deer and rabbits. They are also heat and drought tolerant.
Use in a pollinator garden, rock garden, drought tolerant garden or naturalized areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for Spider mites, thrips, aphids, whitefly, and slugs
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Children's Secret Garden at Wilson Botanical Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Acapulco Orange'
- 'Pink Pearl'
Pink Flowers
'Purple Haze'
Orange tubular flowers 'Astello Indigo'
Fragrant, deep indigo-blue flowers with a minty scent 'Black Adder'
Violet-red flowers 'Blue Boa'
Blue flowers, shorter than 'Blue Fortune' 'Blue Fortune'
Blue flowers 'Firebird'
Coral orange fragrant flowers 'Kudos Ambrosia'
Aromatic foliage helps deter deer
Blue-purple flowers 'Red Happiness'
Red tubular flowers 'TNAGAPO'
Lovely licorice-scent to the flowers and leaves - 'Pink Pearl'
- 'Acapulco Orange', 'Astello Indigo', 'Black Adder', 'Blue Boa', 'Blue Fortune', 'Firebird', 'Kudos Ambrosia', 'Pink Pearl', 'Purple Haze', 'Red Happiness', 'TNAGAPO'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Acapulco Orange'
- 'Pink Pearl'
Pink Flowers
'Purple Haze'
Orange tubular flowers 'Astello Indigo'
Fragrant, deep indigo-blue flowers with a minty scent 'Black Adder'
Violet-red flowers 'Blue Boa'
Blue flowers, shorter than 'Blue Fortune' 'Blue Fortune'
Blue flowers 'Firebird'
Coral orange fragrant flowers 'Kudos Ambrosia'
Aromatic foliage helps deter deer
Blue-purple flowers 'Red Happiness'
Red tubular flowers 'TNAGAPO'
Lovely licorice-scent to the flowers and leaves - 'Pink Pearl'
- 'Acapulco Orange', 'Astello Indigo', 'Black Adder', 'Blue Boa', 'Blue Fortune', 'Firebird', 'Kudos Ambrosia', 'Pink Pearl', 'Purple Haze', 'Red Happiness', 'TNAGAPO'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agastache
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America and Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer and rabbit resistant. Attracts pollinators and hummingbirds.
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be used in teas and salads. Seeds can be used in cooking
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit dries and splits to reveal seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers at the stem tips in summer. Colors are blue, reds, pinks and white.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Most have toothed lance-shaped green leaves. Size varies with the species.
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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
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
