• Photo of Agastache (Agastaches)

Plant Profile: Agastache

Taxonomy: Agastache

Names

Giant Hyssop, Hummingbird Mint

  • Photo of Agastache (Agastaches)

Phonetic Spelling:ah-GAH-sta-kee

Genus:Agastache

Species:

Family:Lamiaceae

Giant Hyssop is a robust perennial herb belonging to the mint family, with most species originating from North America, particularly the southwestern regions. These striking and aromatic plants produce long-lasting blooms throughout the summer, featuring flower spikes in a variety of colors, including white, blue, and various shades of red and purple. They play a crucial role in creating pollinator-friendly gardens and are notably resilient against deer and rabbits. Additionally, they thrive in hot and dry conditions.

For optimal growth, Giant Hyssop requires well-drained soil, as excessive moisture during winter in poorly drained areas can be detrimental. If your soil is heavy, consider planting them in raised beds or containers. They are well-suited for use in pollinator gardens, rock gardens, or naturalized landscapes.

Agastache Feature Summary

Agastache Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#long-lasting flowers
#summer flowers
#pollinator plant
#edible leaves
#native
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Agastache Feature Summary

Attributes
Deer and rabbit resistant. Attracts pollinators and hummingbirds.
Leaves can be used in teas
Perennial
Seed
Stem Cutting
Division
Flowers
Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers at the stem tips in summer. Colors are blue, reds, pinks and white.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Red/Burgundy
Blue
2-3 rays/petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
Most have toothed lance-shaped green leaves. Size varies with the species.
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Erect
Clumping
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Garden for the Blind
Border
Small groups
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Container
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds

Agastache Attributes

Agastache: Country Or Region Of Origin

North America

Agastache: Wildlife Value

Deer and rabbit resistant. Attracts pollinators and hummingbirds.

Agastache: Edibility

Leaves can be used in teas

Agastache: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Agastache: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Agastache Flowers

Agastache: Flower Description

Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers at the stem tips in summer. Colors are blue, reds, pinks and white.

Agastache: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Agastache: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Agastache: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Agastache: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Agastache: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Agastache: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Agastache: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Agastache Leaves

Agastache: Leaf Description

Most have toothed lance-shaped green leaves. Size varies with the species.

Agastache: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Agastache: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Agastache: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Agastache: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Agastache: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Agastache: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Agastache: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Agastache: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Agastache: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Agastache Stem

Agastache: Stem Description

Square green stems

Agastache: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Agastache: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Agastache Whole Plant Traits

Agastache: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Agastache: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Agastache: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Agastache: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Agastache: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Agastache: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Agastache Cultural Conditions

Agastache: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Agastache: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Agastache: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Agastache: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Agastache: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Agastache: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Agastache: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Agastache Fruit

Agastache: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Agastache: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Agastache Landscape

Agastache: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Agastache: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Agastache: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Agastache: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Agastache: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees