Unlock the Magic of Agastache: Your Guide to Growing Hummingbird Mint

Thinking about adding a touch of vibrant color, delightful fragrance, and buzzing life to your garden? Agastache, also known as Hummingbird Mint, might be the perfect plant for you! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to grow stunning, healthy agastache plants that will become a garden favorite.

Key Takeaways:

• Attracts Pollinators: Agastache is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, many varieties are drought-tolerant and heat-resistant.
• Fragrant Beauty: Enjoy aromatic foliage and spikes of colorful flowers.
• Variety is Key: Different Agastache types offer unique characteristics for diverse garden designs.
• Sunny Spot Needed: Agastache thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

Agastache isn’t just another pretty flower; it’s a dynamic addition to any garden space. With its tall, showy flower spikes in shades of purple, pink, orange, and blue, and foliage often smelling sweetly of anise, mint, or even root beer, this perennial is a treat for the senses. Whether you’re aiming for a pollinator paradise, a fragrant herb garden, or just a burst of easy-care color, growing agastache is a rewarding experience. Let’s dig in!

Getting to Know Your Agastache: Varieties and Traits

Part of the joy of gardening is choosing the perfect plant for the right spot. Agastache offers a wonderful range of options, each with its own charm. Identifying the specific type of agastache you’re growing or planning to plant helps tailor your care for the best results.

Here are a few popular Agastache varieties and their key features:

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

• Scientific Name: Agastache foeniculum
• Common Name: Anise Hyssop
• Zone: USDA Zones 4-8
• Light: Full sun
• Flowers: Striking lavender-blue spikes, usually 3-4 inches long.
• Habit: Grows upright and bushy, typically reaching 2-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
• Foliage: Green leaves with a distinct anise scent.
• Blooming Period: Blooms from mid-summer into early fall.

Mexican Hyssop (Agastache mexicana)

• Scientific Name: Agastache mexicana
• Common Name: Mexican Hyssop
• Zone: USDA Zones 7-10
• Light: Full sun
• Flowers: Dense spikes of tubular flowers in beautiful shades of red, pink, or lilac.
• Habit: Upright and somewhat spreading, typically 2-3 feet tall and wide.
• Foliage: Dark green leaves with a scent reminiscent of mint and licorice.
• Blooming Period: Flowers generously from summer through fall.

Giant Hyssop / Korean Mint (Agastache rugosa)

• Scientific Name: Agastache rugosa
• Common Name: Giant Hyssop, Korean Mint
• Zone: USDA Zones 4-9
• Light: Full sun
• Flowers: Lavender to purple-blue spikes, often larger and more substantial than other types.
• Habit: Tall and upright growth, potentially reaching 4-6 feet in height and 2-3 feet wide.
• Foliage: Highly aromatic green leaves with a pleasant minty-anise fragrance.
• Blooming Period: Provides blooms from mid-summer until fall.

Texas Hummingbird Mint (Agastache cana)

• Scientific Name: Agastache cana
• Common Name: Texas Hummingbird Mint
• Zone: USDA Zones 5-9
• Light: Full sun
• Flowers: Loose spikes of tubular flowers in lovely rose-pink to magenta hues.
• Habit: More compact and bushy than others, usually staying between 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
• Foliage: Gray-green leaves with a refreshing minty scent.
• Blooming Period: Blooms consistently from summer through fall.

These variations in height, color, scent, and growth habit make agastache incredibly versatile for garden design. Anise Hyssop is wonderful in a mixed border or herb garden, while the compact Texas Hummingbird Mint is perfect for rock gardens or containers. Giant Hyssop makes a bold statement at the back of a bed, and Mexican Hyssop adds vibrant color to containers or sunny corners. Consider your garden’s conditions and your desired look when choosing your agastache.

Finding the Perfect Spot for Your Agastache

Like finding the right home, choosing the ideal location is key to a happy, thriving agastache plant. These beauties hail from sun-drenched regions, so mimicking that environment is crucial.

• Sunlight: Agastache absolutely loves the sun! Aim for a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight every single day. Full sun encourages the most blooms and the strongest growth.
• Soil: Good drainage is non-negotiable. Agastache roots do not like sitting in soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. Think well-draining soil, perhaps amended with compost to improve structure and fertility without retaining too much moisture. If you have heavy clay soil, consider mixing in sand or fine grit.
• pH: Agastache generally prefers soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral, ideally between 6.0 and 7.5 pH.
• Hardiness: Most types of agastache are grown as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 10, depending on the specific variety. Check your zone and the plant tag to ensure it’s suitable for your climate.

Planting Your Agastache: A Smooth Start

Getting your new agastache into the ground properly sets the stage for future success. Whether you’re starting from seed, a nursery plant, or a cutting, providing the right environment at planting time makes a big difference.

Before planting, prepare your soil by mixing in some organic matter like compost. This helps improve drainage and gives the plant a little boost.

1. Dig a hole that’s a bit deeper and wider than the plant’s root ball.
2. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole slightly to encourage roots to spread out.
3. Gently place the plant in the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with or just slightly below the surrounding soil surface.
4. Backfill the hole with your prepared soil, gently firming it around the plant’s base to eliminate air pockets and ensure good contact with the roots.
5. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Use a watering can with a gentle spray or a hose on a low setting to avoid displacing the soil and stressing the newly planted agastache.

Agastache plant in garden

Watering and Mulching: Keeping Your Agastache Happy

Once established, many agastache varieties are wonderfully drought-tolerant, which makes them a great choice for water-wise gardens. However, they still need consistent moisture when they’re getting settled in their new home.

• Watering Frequency: Water your newly planted agastache deeply about once a week, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. As the plant matures and shows new growth, you can gradually reduce watering frequency.
• Avoid Overwatering: Agastache absolutely hates wet feet! Overwatering is one of the quickest ways to kill this plant by causing root rot. Always check the soil moisture before watering.
• Mulch: Apply a layer of organic mulch (about 2 inches deep) around the base of the plant. Keep the mulch pulled back slightly from the stem to prevent moisture buildup right against the plant. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and breaks down over time to enrich the soil.

Fertilizing and Maintenance: Encouraging Blooms and Bushiness

Just like we need regular meals, plants benefit from consistent care to reach their full potential. A little attention to feeding and pruning goes a long way in keeping your agastache blooming profusely and looking its best.

1. Feeding: A light feeding in spring and mid-summer can encourage strong growth and abundant flowers. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer according to package directions. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to leggy growth and fewer flowers.
2. Pinching: When your young agastache plants are about 6 inches tall, pinch back the tips of the stems. This simple step encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in a bushier, fuller specimen with more flowering stems.
3. Deadheading: To keep your agastache blooming from summer into fall, make sure to deadhead spent flowers regularly. Removing the fading flower spikes redirects the plant’s energy from seed production back into producing more blooms. This also keeps your garden looking tidier and can help prevent potential fungal issues by removing decaying material.
4. Pruning: In late fall or early winter, after the plant has finished blooming, you can cut the stems back to about 4 inches above the ground. Some gardeners prefer to leave the spent stalks standing through winter for architectural interest or to provide shelter for beneficial insects, cutting them back in early spring instead. Both methods work; choose what suits your garden style and climate.

Preparing Your Agastache for Winter

If you live in a region with cold winters, giving your agastache a little extra protection can help ensure it returns reliably in the spring.

• Mulch Protection: In late fall, after the ground has started to freeze slightly, apply a thick layer (4-6 inches) of insulating mulch, like straw or shredded leaves, around the base of the plant. This helps protect the roots from freeze-thaw cycles that can heave the plant out of the ground. Remember to remove the thick mulch layer in early spring as new growth begins, replacing it with a lighter, standard layer.
• Container Plants: If your agastache is growing in a pot, move it to a sheltered location for the winter. An unheated garage, shed, or greenhouse can provide protection from extreme cold and harsh winds.
• Severe Winters: In particularly brutal climates, consider covering your plants with a breathable material like frost cloth or burlap during the coldest spells for added insulation.

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

One of the many joys of growing agastache is that it’s relatively tough and resistant to most common garden pests and diseases. However, it’s always good to be aware of potential issues.

• Root Rot: As mentioned earlier, root rot is the most common problem, almost always caused by too much water or poorly draining soil. Symptoms include stunted growth, yellowing or wilting leaves (especially lower ones), and drooping flowers. If you suspect root rot, stop watering immediately and improve drainage if possible. Prevention is key – plant in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.
• Aphids and Whiteflies: Occasionally, you might encounter sap-sucking pests like aphids or whiteflies.
  • Aphids: Small, often green (but can be other colors), pear-shaped insects found clustered on new growth or the undersides of leaves. They cause distorted or yellowing leaves.
  • Whiteflies: Tiny white, triangular insects that flutter up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed, typically found on leaf undersides.
    Both pests feed on plant sap, weakening the plant and leaving behind a sticky substance called honeydew, which can attract ants or lead to sooty mold. Check your plants regularly. If you find an infestation, a strong spray of water can often dislodge them, or you can treat the plant with insecticidal soap according to product instructions.

Expanding Your Agastache Collection: Propagation Methods

Want more agastache? Great news – these plants are relatively easy to propagate! You can easily multiply your favorite varieties and share them with friends.

• Seeds: Many agastache varieties can be grown from seed. You can start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost, or sow them directly in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Some varieties, especially hybrids, may not come true from seed.
• Cuttings: Taking softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer is a reliable way to propagate many agastache types. Take a cutting from healthy, non-flowering growth, remove the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional), and plant it in a pot filled with moist potting mix. Keep the cutting humid and warm until roots form.
• Division: Mature, clumping agastache plants can be divided in early spring or fall. Carefully dig up the clump, gently separate it into smaller sections, ensuring each section has roots and some stems, and replant the divisions in prepared soil.

Planting Partners: What Grows Well with Agastache?

Agastache fits beautifully into many garden styles and pairs wonderfully with other plants that share its preference for full sun and good drainage. Choosing the right companions enhances the visual appeal and creates a harmonious garden ecosystem, often attracting even more pollinators!

Look for plants that are also drought-tolerant and attract beneficial insects. Some excellent partners for agastache include:

• Echinacea:
  • Scientific Name: Echinacea
  • Common Name: Coneflower
  • Traits: Perennial, comes in various heights and colors, attracts pollinators.
• Lavandula:
  • Scientific Name: Lavandula
  • Common Name: Lavender
  • Traits: Fragrant herb, drought-tolerant, attracts bees, suitable for containers.
• Salvia:
  • Scientific Name: Salvia
  • Common Name: Sage
  • Traits: Diverse genus including herbs and ornamentals, many are drought-tolerant and pollinator magnets, some are suitable for containers.
• Rudbeckia:
  • Scientific Name: Rudbeckia
  • Common Name: Black-Eyed Susan
  • Traits: Perennial or annual depending on species, daisy-like flowers with dark centers, attracts pollinators, relatively drought-tolerant.
• Gaillardia:
  • Scientific Name: Gaillardia
  • Common Name: Blanket Flower
  • Traits: Native perennial, known for vibrant, multi-colored daisy-like flowers, highly drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators.

These companion plants not only complement the look of agastache but also thrive in similar conditions, making garden planning easier and creating a stunning display throughout the season.

Conclusion

Growing agastache is a truly rewarding endeavor. From its stunning flower spikes and aromatic foliage to its incredible ability to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, this plant brings so much life and beauty to the garden. By choosing the right variety, providing a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and following these simple care tips, you can enjoy healthy, vibrant agastache plants year after year.

Ready to add some Hummingbird Mint magic to your landscape? We hope this guide gives you the confidence to plant and care for agastache. If you have questions or your own favorite tips, share them in the comments below! Explore more articles on Thelittle.garden for inspiration and advice to make your garden dreams a reality.