• Photo of Agastache rupestris (Agastache rupestriss)

Plant Profile: Agastache rupestris

Taxonomy: Agastache rupestris

Names

Giant Hyssop, Hummingbird's Mint, Hyssop, Licorice Mint Hyssop, Mexican Giant Hyssop, Mexican Hyssop, Sunset Hyssop, Threadleaf Giant Hyssop

  • Photo of Agastache rupestris (Agastache rupestriss)

Phonetic Spelling:a-GAH-sta-kee ru-PE-stris

Genus:Agastache

Species:rupestris

Family:Lamiaceae

This compact plant produces enduring flowers that draw in hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Its leaves emit a licorice fragrance, which helps keep deer at bay. Once it is well-established, this plant can withstand drought conditions. The flowering period lasts from summer through fall, thriving best in arid climates, though it may struggle in areas with high humidity.

For optimal growth, plant it in sandy or rocky soils that offer excellent drainage, or consider using a pot or raised bed. It is important to note that this plant will not survive winter in wet, heavy soils.

Agastache rupestris Feature Summary

Agastache rupestris Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#drought tolerant
#orange
#perennial
#orange flowers
#fall interest
#long-lasting flowers
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#herbaceous perennial
#sandy soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Agastache rupestris is often confused with:

Agastache rupestris Feature Summary

Attributes
AZ & NM on cool mountain slopes 5000' to 7000' elevation
Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies; deters deer
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Flowers
Burnt orange tubular 2-lipped flowers with purplish calyxes on a 10-12 inch spike. Blooms all summer. Deadhead for a fall repeat bloom.
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Orange
2-3 rays/petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are narrow, gray-green, lance to linear shape with a licorice scent.
Green
Gray/Silver
Linear
Lanceolate
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Mountains
Piedmont
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Border
Small groups
Container
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds

Agastache rupestris Attributes

Agastache rupestris: Country Or Region Of Origin

SW USA

Agastache rupestris: Distribution

AZ & NM on cool mountain slopes 5000' to 7000' elevation

Agastache rupestris: Wildlife Value

Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies; deters deer

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

deer, drought

Agastache rupestris: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Agastache rupestris: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Agastache rupestris Flowers

Agastache rupestris: 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.

Agastache rupestris: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Agastache rupestris: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Agastache rupestris: Flower Value To Gardener

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

Agastache rupestris: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: Flower Shape

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

Agastache rupestris: Flower Size

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

Agastache rupestris Leaves

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Description

Leaves are narrow, gray-green, lance to linear shape with a licorice scent.

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Type

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

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: Leaf Margin

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

Agastache rupestris: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Length

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

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Agastache rupestris: Leaf Width

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

Agastache rupestris Stem

Agastache rupestris: Stem Description

Square green stems

Agastache rupestris: Stem Color

grass
Green

Agastache rupestris: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Agastache rupestris: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Agastache rupestris Whole Plant Traits

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: 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 rupestris: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Agastache rupestris: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Agastache rupestris: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Agastache rupestris Cultural Conditions

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: Soil pH

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

Agastache rupestris: Soil Drainage

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

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Agastache rupestris: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Agastache rupestris: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Agastache rupestris Landscape

Agastache rupestris: 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 rupestris: 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 rupestris: 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 rupestris: 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 rupestris: Attracts

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