General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Also tolerates drought and poor soils. Somewhat tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Cut back plants in late summer to encourage a fall rebloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This hyssop species is native to mountain slopes (5000-7000' elevation) in Arizona and New Mexico. It is a woody-based perennial which typically grows 18-24" tall in gardens, but to 36" tall in the wild. Key ornamental features are (1) the small, long-blooming, salmon-burnt orange, tube-shaped flowers with purplish calyxes which are arranged in salvia-like spikes and (2) the aromatic, narrow, linear to linear-lanceolate gray-green leaves (to 2" long). Flowers bloom for almost two months (July through August) often with some fall rebloom if plants are cut back in late summer after the initial flowering period. Sometimes commonly called sunset hyssop in reference to the resemblance of the flower color to the hues of a sunset. Also sometimes called rock anise hyssop or licorice hyssop in reference to the minty-licorice-root beer aroma of the foliage of this mint family member. Leaves may be used in teas. Agastache comes from the Greek words for "much" (agan) and "grain stalk" (stachys) in reference to the flower spikes. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.