Growing, Planting And Using Agastache Hummingbird Mint
Agastache, also known as Hummingbird Mint or Giant Hyssop, is a perennial favorite among xeriscaping enthusiasts due to its stunning flowers and exceptional drought tolerance. This versatile plant meets the needs of gardeners seeking long-lasting blooms, hardy foliage, and low-maintenance care. Moreover, Agastache’s ability to thrive in containers with minimal watering or irrigation makes it an ideal choice for water-conscious garden designs.
As an added bonus, this attractive perennial attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, further enriching the gardening experience.
Growing Agastache in the Drought-Tolerant Garden
Agastaches, hardy in zone 5 with minimal protection, thrive in full sun and low-water conditions, making them an attractive choice for eco-conscious gardeners seeking water conservation ideas. As drought-tolerant plants, they’re gaining popularity among garden enthusiasts. These hummingbird mints can be used to create a striking accent container or a vibrant mass of flowers.
With growth habits ranging from 1-4 feet tall and 12-24 inches wide, depending on the cultivar and variety, it’s essential to check labels carefully. Notably, most agastache plants readily cross-pollinate, making seed-grown specimens unlikely to come true. As a result, gardeners may need to manually remove volunteer seedlings.
Using Agastache in an Eco-Friendly Garden Landscape
Hummingbird mint (Agastache) is a long-blooming perennial that thrives from mid-summer to fall, producing tubular flowers that are a hit with hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. To ensure success, gardeners should plant it in well-drained soil or containers, as its crown needs to be above ground level during wet winters to prevent waterlogged roots.
While red and orange flowering hyssops are particularly appealing to hummingbirds, all of these flowers are attractive and long-lasting, making them perfect for attracting pollinators. Agastache is often used as a companion plant for other perennials that prefer fast-draining soil, such as penstemon, lavender, or Artemisia. In containers, it can be added to any garden and looks stunning alongside roses or thirstier plants.
Raising the container to eye-level allows these colorful plants to be tucked in with other perennials in a mixed bed or border.
Favorite Agastache Blooms in Almost Any Color
Gardeners are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting a hybrid hummingbird mint that suits their landscape’s needs. With a vast array of colors to choose from, including white, blue, red and everything in between, there’s a perfect match for any outdoor space. The sheer diversity of options is thanks in part to the tireless efforts of breeders who have worked to create varieties that cater to different tastes and design styles.
Some popular options include ‘Summer Glow’, a light yellow giant hyssop standing at 2 feet tall, as well as ‘Shades of Orange’ with its burnt orange to light apricot hues and a height of 2.5 feet. Then there’s ‘Blue Fortune’, which boasts a stunning lavender blue color and reaches 3 feet in height.
For those who prefer something a bit more vibrant, ‘Rosita’ is a bright fuchsia pink giant hyssop that stands at 2 feet tall, while ‘Sonoran Sunset’ offers a purply-pink hue and a compact 1-foot-tall stature. Finally, there’s ‘Cana’, a rosy pink giant hyssop that grows to be 3 feet tall.
As gardeners become increasingly mindful of the importance of water conservation, plants like agastache are gaining popularity.
Not only do these perennials possess staying power, but they also attract hummingbirds and offer weeks of colorful blooms. And let’s not forget their impressive drought tolerance – just another reason to love these charming flowers.
