Agastache is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Lamiaceas.

Its common name is Giant Hyssop, although cultivars are known by many names, such as hummingbird mint and licorice mint.

The species is bushy, and sports long, airy spikes of brightly colored tubular two-lipped flowers. It typically has stiff angular stems clothed in tooth-edged, lance shaped leaves, and ranges in height from 2 to 6 feet tall.

It flowers in a variety of colors, including white, pink, mauve, orange, blue or purple and will bloom from summer to early fall.

Agastache can be grown in zones 4 to 11. It grows best in well-drained soil, and is adapted to rocky soil.

Some cultivars are very drought tolerant, but all flower better if they receive adequate rainfall. It does not tolerate wet feet in the winter.

This plant is perfect for problem areas where other plants fail to thrive, such as a hot spot along side a driveway, sidewalk or street.

Agastache is non-invasive, however, it self-seeds freely. A member of the mint family, each cultivar carries a slightly different fragrance, varying from mint to lemon to licorice.

Agastache is a key pollinator plant. While it attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, pests often don’t bother it due to its strong fragrance. Members of the Agastache family include:

A. foeniculum (Anise Hyssop), a licorice scented plant, it is easy to grow from seed and is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It has beautiful blue flowers and grows to about 2 feet tall.

A. rugosum (Giant Hyssop rugosa or Korean mint) is a much taller form. It will easily top 4 feet tall and blooms in early summer. Its colors range from white to rose to violet.

A. urticifolia (Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop or Horsemint) is another hardy form frequently found in seed catalogs. This one tops out at 6 feet with flowers in the rose to blue to violet shades. It is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

A. Mexicana (Mexican Giant Hyssop) is a more tender cultivar. Hardy in zones 7 to 11, it is grown as an annual in our zone. The flowers on this variety range widely from bright reds through pale pinks. These heavy bloomers work wonderfully in container gardens.

Agastache can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or division.

Seeds will germinate in 5 to 7 days. Excessive fertilizer will cause this plant to become leggy, and produce fewer blooms.

As with other perennials, deadheading agastache will encourage it to produce continual blooms and bushy growth.

Karen McDowell is a Butler County Penn State Master Gardener.