Agastache with tall spikes of flower in summer are a stalwart for the dry garden. With more varieties available each year these easy care plants grow well in a sunny position and well drained soil.
These perennials not only have a long flowering period, they also have fragrant foliage. Maintenance is minimal, simply cut them back to the ground in early spring.
The flowers also attract bees and birds to the garden, the plants are frost tolerant, and are also reasonably drought tolerant.
They can be grown in the garden as feature plants, planned en mass or even grown in containers on patios or in courtyards.
These area plant that vary in height, some will grow to nearly 2 metres tall (6ft), others less than 1 metre (3ft)
How to grow Agastache.
Choose a sunny position and a well drained soil and you are off to good start.
- Dig the soil well, removing weeds and adding some well rotted compost.
- Plant and water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser
- Mulch around the plants to retain some moisture and prevent weeds.
- Fertilise each spring with a liquid seaweed and fish emission fertiliser.
- Top dress with a little compost each year.
Pruning.
- You can dead head after the fort flush of flowers to promote more flowers.
- Prune back to the ground in early spring. You will see the new growth around the base os the plant, leave this in tact.
Varieties
A number of species and many cultivars are available. The species vary in height and form and are a guide to the growth habit of the cultivars.
Commonly grown species
- Agastache aurantiaca has orange flowers.
- A. foeniculum or ‘Blue giant hyssop’ .
- A.rugosa commonly called ‘Korean Mint’
- A. mexicana is a tall growing plant to 1.2m although sometimes shorter depending on soil and growing conditions. Also known as ‘Mexican Hysop’.
Popular Varieties
- Blue Fortune – Blue flowers
- Sweet Lili – Violet and Apricot Coloured flowers.
- Black Adder – Dark blue flowers and dark foliage
- Sunrise Fiesta – Orange flowers
- Pink Fiesta – Pink flowers
- Apache Sunset – Rosey pink flowers
Propagation
Easy by division of established clumps. Divide every 4 – 5 years, look for the sections that are newer in growth and replant these. Divide into good sized clumps with 3 -4 shoots on each one. The older sections are best disposed of.
You may also be interested in
Agastache plants are available for sale from the following nurseries
www.planterspatch.com.au
52 Rodd St Canowindra NSW 2804
An online nursery specialising in drought and frost tolerant perennials and fragrant, edible and herbs.
www.perennialle.com.au
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au
Large variety of Epimediums, Woodland plants and Herbaceous perennials
Mail order or nursery. We do not send to Tasmania or WA
www.cloverhillrareplants.com