• Sun to Part Sun
• Need well-drained soils
• Prefer deep but infrequent watering once established
• Bloom color and time varies with variety
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Heat tolerant

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Agastache (Common names include Hummingbird Mint and Hyssop)

Ever heard of this perennial?  It’s well loved by hummingbirds, as you might suspect from the name.  In fact, it’s in the top 5 perennials to plant for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. You know what doesn’t love it? Deer! Yes, an easy to grow perennial that deer won’t mow down.  This alone makes agastache a winner! Plus the blooms are gorgeous and last all summer long. And they love hot sun, and are drought tolerant once established. Hummingbird mint checks a lot of boxes, right?!

The leaves and blooms of some species of hyssop are fragrant (like licorice and mint) and are sometimes used in drinks and foods. The flower stalks also hold well after being cut, making them a great cut flower. You can also dry them for later use in arrangements.

How to Grow Hummingbird Mint

Be sure to plant in fertile, well-drained soil.  Wet soil in the winter will stress hummingbird mint and it might not come back strong the following spring.  You can mix this plant in your container plantings with other annual or perennial pollinator plants or plant in the ground.  ‘Poquito Butter Yellow’ (pictured above) and ‘Mango Tango’ (you guessed it, mango orange colored blooms, image below) are both compact varieties and make good border perennials.  ‘Blue Fortune’ is a pale blue blooming, taller growing variety with a mature height of 24-36 inches and features more narrow bloom spikes. ‘Blue Boa’ has larger, more dramatic bloom spikes in a dark blue color and is also a taller variety, maturing at around 36″.

Our perennial grower, Jen M. had this to say about the ‘Poquito Butter Yellow’ variety in her New Perennial Selections for 2020 blog post:

“Ok, truth time: this one I grew for me!  It won the “Classic City Award” from the trial gardens at UGA (University of Georgia) last September.  This variety has been applauded by many horticulturists so of course we need this one too! Grows only 13” tall.”

As of today, June 9th, 2020, we still have some of each of the mentioned varieties left… but they are popular so call for an inventory check before coming out to get one!

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Every year brings opportunities for new plants, and this year is no exception!  I have poured over the catalogs, reviewed plant trials and talked to other growers.  Here is just some of the goodies available this year.

Dianthus ‘Paint the Town Fuchsia’

What a pretty color this is!  There is a bunch of breeding in the Dianthus category, and the options were numerous!  This variety will bloom earlier than other Dianthus varieties. It only grows 6-8” tall.

Yarrow ‘Sassy Summer Sunset’

Last year we had Yarrow ‘Sassy Summer Sangria’ which was gorgeous, and yes, we will have it again for 2020.  This year there is a new color in the series called ‘Sassy Summer Sunset’.  It has a very nice shade of orange, that made me super excited when I saw it. The flowers will fade to yellow, so really you are getting a two-color bonus. Grows 30-36” tall.

Baptisia ‘Vanilla Cream’

You may have the purple or better yet the ‘Lemon Meringue’ variety, but may I introduce you to ‘Vanilla Cream’!  Yep, a cream white flowering Baptisia.  I thought y’all would enjoy this, especially those who may have the other colors.  For those who might be seeing Baptisia for the first time, get one!  Being oh soo pretty and easy to grow, this is a great plant for newbies to the gardening world.  The variety grows 2-3′ tall.

Agastache ‘Blue Boa’

I grew this for you!  I was asked quite often for more of the blue/purple taller Anise Hyssop and here is a great one!  Featured in Fine Gardening magazine last year, it brings up a great point which is if you like Salvia ‘May Night’ then you would love ‘Blue Boa’.  I agree.  The Agastache has a much longer bloom time.  Attracts Pollinators! Grows 30-36” tall.

Agastache ‘Poquito Butter Yellow’

Ok, truth time: this one I grew for me!  It won the “Classic City Award” from the trial gardens at UGA (University of Georgia) last September.  This variety has been applauded by many horticulturists so of course we need this one too! Grows only 13” tall.

Iris ‘Social Graces’

This Iris was given the award of Merit from the American Iris Society.  I think that is one of those colors that would enhance any flower bed.  Fragrant.

Hosta ‘Rainbow’s End’

There is a lot of Hostas out there guys!  It takes a special one for me to turn my head, but sure enough ‘Rainbow’s End’ had me looking and then ordering them for us.  Hard to describe, better seen in person, it is the combination of variegation, saturation of color, and the shiny leaf that sets it apart from other Hostas.  Grows 11” tall.

High Roller Red Hot Poker

Jackpot Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia ‘High Roller’ and ‘Jackpot’  (Red Hot Poker)

We have had Red Hot Poker plants in the past, and we even had them planted on the property.  Entrancing everyone, it is the combination of color and just being uniquely different that makes these plants a nice addition to a flower bed.  These two varieties are brand new and both grow pretty big.  ‘Jackpot’ grows 32-36” tall and ‘High Roller’ grows 36-48” tall.  Deer and rabbit resistant.

Daylily ‘Primal Scream’

Huge 7 ½ to 8 ½” brilliant orange flowers that are classified officially as “unusual form”, this name fits it well!  In the same series is ‘Ruby Red Spider’ daylily which is absolutely amazing!

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Dianthus ‘Georgia Peach Pie’

There is always a bunch of Dianthus in the pink and red shades, but this one is different.  The flowers are blush pink with a coral eye. Likes well drained soil, and is drought tolerant once established. Grows 10-12” tall and wide.

Photo cred Walters Gardens (‘Rosie Posie’)

Agastache ‘Morello’, ‘Rosie Posie’, and ‘Heatwave’

Three new varieties for the Agastache group for 2019! This is a perennial that gives a long, long bloom time in the summer. Dare say almost all summer. Perfect for the Hummingbirds and butterflies.  Loves hot, dry sunny spots, with good drainage especially in the winter.

Photo cred Walters Gardens

Nepeta ‘Cat’s Pajamas’

The plant breeders have been working on new cultivars of catmint, and this one is exciting to see.  It is said to bloom from top to bottom unlike their older cousins that bloom on the tips. A bit of a smaller variety growing 12-14” tall and 18-20” wide.

Vintage Violet Yarrow photo cred Proven Winners

Achillea ‘New Vintage Violet’, ‘New Vintage Rose’ and ‘Sassy Summer Sangria’

Yarrow is another plant that is hot and trendy for 2019. By attracting bees and butterflies it isn’t hard to understand why.  Easy for beginners.

Photo cred Walters Gardens

Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’

This variety is a bit different than the native Amsonia that you might have.  What makes this once different is that the leaves are much wider therefore the plant has a very different overall presence.   It is said that when emerging in the spring the leaves are near black, or at the very least very dark, just like a storm cloud in the distance. They both bloom light blue in the spring.

Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’

Veronica is a fast up and comer plant group, and while most are tall upright varieties, what about a ground cover option?   We got you covered there, too.  This veronica will creep and crawl, and spread  18-30” wide.  It doesn’t mind the humidity, tolerates light foot traffic, blooms violet blue in the spring, and is evergreen! This one checks off a bunch of must haves on the list.

Monarda ‘Bubblegum Blast’

Bees and butterflies just adore Bee Balm and this sweet shade of pink is one to include.  In fact, there will be other new colors as well for 2019. This variety is a great size, growing 24” tall.  Not too big, not too small.

Perennials will be available at different times throughout the spring, as weather plays a role with our crops.

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