Dwarf hummingbird mint is an herbaceous perennial cultivar in the mint family (Lamiaceae). This plant needs low-fertility sandy or loam well-drained soils in full sun and will grow 1-2 feet tall and wide in a compact bushy form. Wet winter feet will decrease cold hardiness. Raised beds or containers are best in areas with clay soil. Water deeply but infrequently once established. The flowers occur on spikes and change color as they mature from cream to light orange to light rose pink. They have a long bloom season from early summer to fall and the aromatic foliage helps to deter deer browsing. Use in the perennial garden, butterfly or pollinator garden or front of the border. It can be used in containers and rock gardens and adds an airy flare to any garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust are occasional problems. Poorly drained soils will lead to crown rot. More information on Agastache .
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 nicheAgastache 'Blue Fortune'Chrysanthemum x morifoliumMonarda fistulosa
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous 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
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lance-shaped aromatic green leaves
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Orange; Pink
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Showy 1 inch cream to orange to pink tubular flowers on spikes last from summer to fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit splits to reveal seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Square green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
SW USA
Wildlife value
Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#long bloom time #nectar plant early summer #cutting garden #drought tolerant #nectar plant mid-summer #summer flowers #nectar plant late summer #fall flowers #nectar plant late fall #nectar plant early fall #nectar plant mid-fall #HS302 #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #fragrant leaves #wildlife friendly #compact