Commonly called hyssop or hummingbird mint, this family has many garden-worthy perennials or annuals plants. Agastache does well in pots or in the ground. It’s a go-to in pollinator plantings. It has long been valued for its edible and medicinal uses. It’s also a good cut flower. In general, agastache has a minty, licorice fragrance.
The native distribution of the perennial giant blue-flowering hyssop (A. foeniculum) is northern Colorado to Wisconsin to adjacent Canada, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website. It is easily grown in our Hoosier landscapes.
Perennial, tender perennial or annual
‘Blue Fortune’ is a European hybrid that’s readily available in garden centers. ‘Golden Jubilee’ (A. foeniculum) was an All-America Selections winner in 2003. It has golden yellow leaves with lavender flowers. The name comes from the celebration of the late Queen Elizabeth’s 50 anniversary on the throne. The sun-loving A. foeniculum is deer resistant and is also known as anise hyssop, in recognition of its scent.
My favorites are in the annual or tender perennial category. I like the flower colors available, especially the pinkish, peachy ones, and these beauties have all the same attributes as the perennials. These agastache seem to bloom forever, making them great for pots or in the ground.
This summer I’m trialing the Summerlong series of Agastache mexicana from Darwin Perennials (shown in photo). Endemic in Mexico, it can be found in southern North America. Hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 10 (some sources say 6 to 10), they will likely be tender perennials in the Hoosier garden, except maybe in southern Indiana. I love these plants. They bloom early and keep up the show, seemingly without fail, throughout the summer, even the recent excessive heat and humidity of June and July.
Pollinators love agastache
The Summerlong series has lemon, lilac, peach, coral and magenta flowers. The plants – up to 22 inches tall and wide, are perfect for the ground or in pots. I have four planted in an 18-inch pot in full sun. I can tell they would do well in the ground, too.
As with all agastache, the hummingbirds regularly visit, drawn by the tubular flowers. Bees and some of the mysterious tiny bugs also like the flowers. Cut a few to enjoy indoors, too.
BTW: There actually is a plant called hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) from Europe, Africa and Asia. The semi-evergreen perennial is hardy to USDA Zone 4. It has shiny, fragrant 1-inch, edible leaves. It’s used in potpourris, perfumes and food flavoring.
Perennial plant specialist Prof. Alan Armitage talks about this plant in a 2024 trial garden.