• Photo of Agastache rugosa (Agastache rugosas)

Plant Profile: Agastache rugosa

Names

Blue Licorice, Indian Mint, Korean Mint, Patchouli Herb, Purple Giant Hyssop

  • Photo of Agastache rugosa (Agastache rugosas)

Phonetic Spelling:ah-GAH-sta-kee roo-GO-sah

Genus:Agastache

Species:rugosa

Family:Lamiaceae

Korean Mint thrives in the mountainous areas of East Asia, particularly near stream banks. For optimal growth, it should be planted in full sunlight and in soil that drains well. The plant's vibrant purple flowers are particularly appealing to pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Additionally, it can withstand grazing from deer and rabbits and is resilient to drought conditions. Consider planting it in clusters at the front of borders, in compact areas, along pathways, or within cottage gardens for a striking display.

Agastache rugosa Feature Summary

Agastache rugosa Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#fragrant flowers
#fall flowers
#wildlife plant
#fragrant leaves
#cut flowers
#low maintenance
#flower arrangements
#stream banks
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#borders
#pollinator plant
#short lifespan
#mid-summer flowers
#border front
#nectar plant fall
#late summer flowers
#flowers early fall
#walkways
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant mid-summer
#nectar plant late summer
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Agastache rugosa is often confused with:

Agastache rugosa Feature Summary

Attributes
A plant used in Chinese herbalism.
Flowers are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
It tolerates browsing from deer and rabbits and is drought tolerant
Perennial
Flowers
Flowers bloom from mid-summer to early fall.
Purple/Lavender
Fragrant
Good Cut
Showy
Leaves
Light green, simple, opposite, dentate leaves have a licorice fragrance when crushed.
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Garden for the Blind
Fairy Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Small groups
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Walkways
Meadow
Small Space
Riparian
Butterflies
Pollinators
Bees
Hummingbirds

Agastache rugosa Attributes

Agastache rugosa: Uses (Ethnobotany)

A plant used in Chinese herbalism.

Agastache rugosa: Country Or Region Of Origin

East Asia

Agastache rugosa: Wildlife Value

Flowers are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Agastache rugosa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

It tolerates browsing from deer and rabbits and is drought tolerant

Agastache rugosa: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Agastache rugosa Flowers

Agastache rugosa: Flower Description

Flowers bloom from mid-summer to early fall.

Agastache rugosa: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Agastache rugosa: Flower Value To Gardener

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

Agastache rugosa: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Agastache rugosa Leaves

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Description

Light green, simple, opposite, dentate leaves have a licorice fragrance when crushed.

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Type

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

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Margin

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

Agastache rugosa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Agastache rugosa: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Agastache rugosa Stem

Agastache rugosa: Stem Description

Erect square stems

Agastache rugosa: Stem Color

grass
Green

Agastache rugosa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Agastache rugosa: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Agastache rugosa Whole Plant Traits

Agastache rugosa: 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 rugosa: 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 rugosa: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Agastache rugosa Cultural Conditions

Agastache rugosa: 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 rugosa: Soil pH

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

Agastache rugosa: Soil Drainage

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

Agastache rugosa: 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 rugosa: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Agastache rugosa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Agastache rugosa: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Agastache rugosa Landscape

Agastache rugosa: 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 rugosa: 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 rugosa: 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 rugosa: 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 rugosa: Attracts

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