Agastache spp
Agastache (pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee) has been chosen “Herb of the Year” for
2019 by the International Herb Association. The IHA is a professional trade
association providing educational, service and development opportunities for
those involved in herbal endeavors. The Herb of the Year is chosen based
on being outstanding in at least two of the three major categories:
medicinal, culinary, or decorative.
An aromatic perennial plant with a broad color palette, vertical lines, and abundant blooms, Agastache is also drought & heat tolerant. As a whole the genus is known as giant hyssops or hummingbird mints which is fairly ambiguous and confusing, since they are neither hyssop or mint! Greek for “many spikes,” the genus Agastache was established in 1762 and is a member of the subfamily Nepetoideae which contains a large portion of the world’s aromatic herbs.
Agastache is characterized by tooth-edged, lance shaped leaves with upright
spikes of tubular, two-lipped long-blooming flowers and can grow from
2 to 6 feet tall. Commonly the flowers are purple to lavender, but may also
be pink, rose, blue, white and even orange in some varieties. They bloom from
the top down all season and are highly attractive to hummingbirds yet
provide resistance to deer and rabbits. Agastache flowers are edible and
the leaf tips can also be eaten or made into teas.
Growing Agastache requires full sun and well drained soil. The winter
hardiness varies by variety and they can be grown as annuals where not hardy.
Propagation is from seed, cuttings or division in spring. Deadheading
is necessary to promote blooms and their height is best at the back of a
border or lining a fence to provide a bold visual impact over a long season.
They make great cut flowers and are also used in butterfly, rock,
cottage and meadow gardens.
New cultivars of Agastache are bred every year, so it is easy to find
at least one for any garden. There are 4 cultivars typically found in gardens:
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop, Blue Giant Hyssop) - a 2-4’ upright perennial with dense clusters of lavender-blue flowers and anise scented foliage, which tolerates humidity and is native to North America
- Agastache mexicana (Mexican Giant Hyssop) - a 2-3’ upright perennial with abundant whorls of pale pink to crimson flowers and lemon-scented leaves that are used as tea or flavoring, which is native to Mexico
- Agastache rugosa (Korean Mint) - a 4-5’ upright perennial with long blooming violet blue flowers and licorice-scented foliage, which is native to Japan, China and Korea
- Agastache rupestris (Licorice Mint, Sunset Hyssop) - a 18” branched clump with spikes of sweetly fragrant, salmon-orange flowers and fragrant foliage, which is native to Southern Arizona, Northern Mexico
"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you.
I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”
Genesis 9:3
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