Plant of the Month – August
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Hummingbird Mint
Agastache ‘Vivid’
Orange and pink-flowered Agastaches attract hummingbirds, while blue-flowered ones are favorites of butterflies and bees. Gardeners love them all.
- Plant Form: Perennial Herb
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 3 ft. tall x 2 ft. wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Summer – Fall (July – Oct)
- Native to: Hybrid of parents from Southwest US and northern Mexico
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0-10°F
Hummingbird Mint could just as well be called “Hummingbird Magnet”, as its spikes of vivid rose-purple flowers are irresistible to these flying nectar-sippers. This group of fragrant, perennial herbs includes various species found mostly across North America and northern Mexico, and horticulturists have been busy crossing them to achieve an astounding variety of hybrids. Flower colors range from blues and purples to pink, rose, and orange. The orange and pink-flowered Agastaches are favorites of hummingbirds, while the blue-flowered ones attract butterflies and bees. All need well-drained, nutrient-poor soil, and like deep, infrequent watering after their second growing season. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more blooming. Leave stems intact over winter to improve cold-hardiness; trim old stems off just above new foliage in mid-spring, 4-5 inches above ground level. Agastaches work well in borders and beds, butterfly gardens, rock gardens, in pots, or massed in the garden.
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