Plant of the Week: Agastache
This plant brings all the Hummingbirds to the yard!
Well, this is NOT an April Fools joke, to be sure! I actually hate April Fools Day. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t find pranks funny. I’m not one for making others uncomfortable or… worse. So no pranking around here!
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So here we are in April! At the end of this post I have a bit about what I’m doing in my garden this week in Colorado Zone 5|6. But here’s a post which might be helpful at this, the beginning of the month:
That’s a question that I am asked frequently, and there’s no shame in not knowing! This is a safe space for beginners, and truly NO QUESTION is out of bounds. If you are wondering, just ask!
What’s that burning gardening question you’ve been dying to ask, but you didn’t know who to ask? Drop it in the comments!
Ask me anything!
If you’ve been around awhile you know that I have worked extensively with High Country Gardens, an online retailer of plants — specifically water-wise plants. Well, this month High Country Gardens is sponsoring every post here on Substack! I only work with brands I love and believe in and whose values align with my own — and that includes High Country Gardens.
Today I’m excited to highlight a group of plants that High Country Gardens and their founder, David Salman, was instrumental in bringing to our gardens: Agastache. And those Agastache are BELOVED by hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. I’m going to convince you that they probably belong in your garden, too.
Plus, I’m sharing some tips, because I have failed mightily to get Agastache established in my own garden before. And I know why!
Ok. Let’s get started…
Why Agastache Is a Must-Have Native Plant
If you’re looking for a plant that does a little bit of everything in the garden—feeding pollinators, thriving in tough conditions, and improving your local ecosystem—let me introduce you to Agastache, commonly known as hummingbird mint or anise hyssop.
This is one of those plant groups that I wish more home gardeners appreciated—because when you choose the right Agastache, especially native North American species, you’re not just planting flowers. You are planting food. You are planting a place to rest. And you are restoring a tiny piece of the ecosystem, one root system at a time.
Agastache is a genus of drought-tolerant perennials in the mint family. Generally speaking, Agastache:
thrive in full sun
like well-drained soil
are an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
Native varieties support bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while requiring minimal water and maintenance. And they BLOOM! They are gorgeous, happy blooming plants that will live for years – if they get a good start in the right place.
I have learned, however, that Agastache can be a little fussy. I planted a lot of them in my Wildlife Garden originally, and they haven’t survived. I was so upset about this, but I have since learned more about my own soil – and about Agastache – and now I know that they were the wrong plant in the wrong place.
My mistake!
But we can learn from this, and grow as gardeners, right? So, let’s dig into how to grow Agastache well—and thoughtfully.
What Makes Agastache So Valuable for Pollinators
Agastache is a genus of about 22 species, many native to North America, especially from the prairies, the plains, and the Southwest .
Native plants like these:
Support specialist pollinators
Require less water and fertilizer
Are adapted to local climate extremes
And Agastache does all that while blooming for months and attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in droves .
Agastache also tends to be rabbit and deer-resistant which is a bonus!
The plants of the Agastache genus produce nectar and pollen – both important food sources for hummingbirds, native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. And they have tube-shaped flowers which are critical for many insects with pointed mouth-parts.
The Best Native Agastache Varieties to Grow
David Salman and Agastache
Have you ever wondered where the plants you can buy at your local nursery or mail order company come from? Well, some of the best water-wise choices have their roots with David Salman (1957-2022), an American horticulturalist.
David Salman built a reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern American horticulture, particularly through his passion for discovering, cultivating, and sharing rare and climate-adapted plants. His work blends botanical curiosity with a practical mission: to bring resilient, water-wise species into mainstream gardening. Salman traveled to remote places all over the world – discovering unknown varieties of plants. He would bring home cuttings and seeds and then grow them on at his own home.
By traveling, trialing, and carefully selecting plants suited for challenging conditions, Salman has helped reshape how gardeners think about sustainability in the landscape. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, he consistently focused on plants that thrive with less water and maintenance, making beauty more accessible in arid regions.
He also founded High Country Gardens – making his plant selections available to us all.
Among Salman’s most notable contributions is his work with Agastache, a group of fragrant, pollinator-friendly perennials that were once relatively unknown in commercial horticulture. Salman recognized their potential early on, collecting and hybridizing varieties that could handle heat, drought, and poor soils while still delivering vibrant color and long bloom times.
By introducing improved cultivars to the market, he helped transform Agastache into a staple of water-wise gardening. Today, these plants are beloved not only for their resilience but also for their ability to attract hummingbirds and bees—an enduring testament to Salman’s vision of gardens that are both ecologically meaningful and visually striking.
Also, I think it is important to recognize the time and labor it takes to get a plant into our gardens whether we are growing them from seed or buying them online, those plants represent thousands of hours of work by someone — let’s recognize them!
Which Agastache Is Right for Your Region
If you want an assortment of Agastache, like I do, consider putting in a collection. This spring I am planting the Best in Show Collection of Agastache from High Country Gardens. The varieties in this collection were all developed by David Salman, and will be perennial in Zones 2-9.
Agastache | Best in Show Collection:
Ava Agastache: a raspberry-red variety with a subtle fragrance
Desert Solstice Agastache: a shorter plant with lighter pink blooms
‘Red Happiness’ Agastache: gorgeous red flowers that attract hummingbirds
Glowing Embers® Agastache: an orange-red variety that pops against green foliage
Fall Fiesta Agastache: a particularly tall variety with spikes of pink and orange flowers
All of these varieties support native pollinators. Other varieties you could try include:
Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’: a European hybrid which is well-suited to the Eastern part of North America
Agastache foeniculum | Anise Hyssop: native to the northern plains and prairies; very cold-hardy and reliable
Agastache scrophulariifolia | Purple Giant Hyssop: excellent for woodland edges and part-sun conditions
Agastache nepetoides | Yellow Giant Hyssop: a very tall plant, fabulous for native meadow plantings
Agastache rupestris | Licorice Mint Hyssop: beautiful orange blossoms on an incredibly durable plant – great for hellstrips
Agastache cana | Texas Hummingbird Mint: a purply-pink species that thrives in crevices and hot, dry locations
The key to establishing Agastache – and the thing I didn’t do well with my Wildlife Garden – is to know your soil, and choose plants that will thrive in the soil you have. More on that in a minute!
In the comments tell us what varieties of Agastache you are growing and where! Share your successes — and show us some photos!
My advice: Grow Agastache where you can mimic their native habitat (think gravel gardens, slopes, or raised beds).
Where Does Agastache Grow Best?
Agastache thrives when you match it to its native conditions.
Prairie natives (like A. foeniculum):
Midwest, Northeast, Mountain WestSouthwestern species:
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, dry inland CaliforniaAdaptable varieties:
Many can grow in USDA Zones 4–10 depending on the species
If you remember one thing, make it this: Agastache would rather be dry than rich.
Poor drainage—especially in winter—is the #1 cause of failure.
Most Agastache species are naturally adapted to dry, sunny environments, which makes them thrive in arid and semi-arid climates with minimal intervention. In these regions, their preference for lean, well-drained soils and infrequent watering aligns perfectly with natural conditions, allowing them to develop strong root systems and long-lasting blooms.
Tips for Growing Agastache outside of the Western US
If you live in a place with more moisture, and lots of you do, there are a few things you can do to ensure your Agastache varieties thrive.
Grow in pots: pots dry out much more quickly which makes Agastache a great candidate for container gardening. You can even stow them away in a dry shed or garage for the winter, and many varieties will come back year after year.
Plant in sandy soil: if you have free-draining, sandy soil, Agastache might be the perfect plant!
South or west-facing exposure: especially if you are planting on a slope which improves drainage even more, exposure can be your friend.
Choose the right variety: there are Agastache species and varieties which appreciate a little more moisture. Keep that in mind as you choose!
Why did my Agastache die?
That’s a great question! I’m glad you asked.
When I planned my Wildlife Garden, I knew my soil was pretty heavy clay. It was also suffering from decades of neglect. I knew that Agastache prefer well-draining soils, but I had a slope to plant, and I hoped that would be enough.
It wasn’t.
First, the spring when I planted them was historically wet – great for establishing young plants. But the following winter was also a very wet winter, and I suspect the combination of clay soil, lots of moisture, and young plants was the root of their demise.
So what am I doing differently this time?
It’s all about location this time around! I have an area which used to be my Potager garden. The soil in these raised beds has been heavily planted for several years, depleting the nutrition. Additionally, this is a hot, dry area with plenty of reflected heat from the gravel and driveway. So, my new growing conditions are:
depleted soil
hot and dry location
raised beds which drain readily
This is where the Agastache will be planted out. The beds are filled and have been fallow all winter. I’m ready to plant!
I think this will be the perfect location for an Agastache garden!
How to Grow Agastache Successfully
Agastache needs full sun (6–8+ hours) for strong stems and heavy blooms .
Less sun = floppy plants and fewer flowers.
My new plantings will get a combination of morning and afternoon sun. They should be very happy!
Skip the instinct to “improve” soil with rich compost.
Instead:
Aim for lean, fast-draining soil
Add gravel or coarse sand if you have clay
Consider raised beds or slopes
Agastache naturally thrives in low-fertility soils. Think rock gardens, crevices, rocky outcroppings.
Watering: How Much Is Too Much
Water to Establish—Then Back Off
Year One: water regularly
Year Two: deeper, less-frequent watering
Year Three+: deep, infrequent watering
These are drought-tolerant plants that decline with overwatering, but they do need two good years of watering to get their roots established.
Once established (after their first two years), Agastache require only occasional, deep watering and performs best when the soil is allowed to dry between cycles, mimicking desert rainfall patterns . In dry climates, these plants are low-maintenance and highly resilient, with fewer disease issues and stronger flowering performance.
Agastache Maintenance
Maintenance: The “Less Is More” Approach
What to Do
Pinch in spring for bushier growth
Deadhead if you want more blooms, but not past mid-summer
Cut back in spring—not fall
What Not to Do
Don’t fertilize heavily (it reduces flowering)
Don’t mulch heavily at the crown
Don’t keep soil moist
Designing a Pollinator Garden with Agastache
If you’re serious about improving your garden ecosystem, think beyond single plants. Remember: we never plant one; we always plant in multiples!
Pair Agastache with:
My new pollinator garden will have five varieties of Agastache as well as Roses, Penstemon, and probably some yet-to-be-identified plants, too.
Ok. I’m headed out to the garden to get some plants stuck in! Which Agastache will you be planting this year? Have I convinced you? Tell us in the comments!
For those of you who celebrate, I am wishing you a meditative and contemplative Holy Week. And for those of you who make worship happen for so many: thank you. This is a busy week, and I hope a long nap is in your future!
As we turn the page of our calendar this week (how is it already April!), here are some of the things I’m working on in the garden.
This week in my garden | Colorado Zone 5|6:
Plant of the Week: I am planting Agastache this week — big surprise! High Country Gardens sent me some, and I will be getting them into the ground this week.
Plant Orders: the first of my plant orders are arriving, and I’m working to get things into the ground as they show up. Today I have two new peonies which I’ll be tucking in the ground — somewhere. I’m no sure where!
Frost and Snow Protection: I’m keeping my supplies on hand. My favorite protective tool is a 5 gallon pot (or bigger). I save them from shrubs and trees, and I pop them over my plants for a little protection. Here’s what I do:
Weeding: the weeds are relentless! Already they are popping up everywhere! So, I’m at that point in the season where I measure a good day by how many trugs of weeds I pull. Better to do it now, though. They only get worse unless you deal with them. Sigh.
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Happy Gardening!
Angela
Great post, Angela! Agastache is one of my favorites too. I've grown several varieties that I love, and they attract so many pollinators. Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Where/what brand are those raised garden beds? I like the smooth look!