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Giant Hyssop

Agastache (ag-ah-STA-kee)

Family: Lamiaceae Native Herbaceous

This is a Genus of about 22 species of herbaceous perennials in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and most are native to North America and many from the southwest and Mexico. There are two subdivisions with one group native to North America and another native to Asia. The Genus name is from ancient Greek meaning "very much" and "ear of grain' describing the flower spikes. Well-drained soils are essential for these plants and wet winter feet in poorly drained soil will do them in. Plant in a raised bed or container if needed in full sun. Choose a species that tolerates southeast summers best such as 'Blue Fortune', 'Blue Boa' or the Acapulco® group. They are showy, fragrant, long-blooming perennials with spikes of flowers that bloom most of the summer. Colors range from white to blue and shades of red and purple. Giant Hyssops are essential for a pollinator-friendly garden and have excellent resistance to browsing deer and rabbits. They are also heat and drought tolerant. Use in a pollinator garden, rock garden, drought tolerant garden or naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for Spider mites, thrips, aphids, whitefly, and slugs

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 56 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' Passiflora incarnata Salvia rosmarinus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Most have toothed lance-shaped green leaves. Size varies with the species.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers at the stem tips in summer. Colors are blue, reds, pinks and white.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruit dries and splits to reveal seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Square green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America and Asia
Wildlife value
Deer and rabbit resistant. Attracts pollinators and hummingbirds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Seeds
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule

Edibility

Leaves can be used in teas and salads. Seeds can be used in cooking

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#showy flowers #drought tolerant #summer flowers #hummingbird friendly #butterfly friendly #long-lasting flowers #pollinator plant #edible leaves #full sun tolerant #bee friendly #perennial #th-smell #HS303
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Rabbits
Propagation
Division; Seed; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.