Practically Perfect Plants: These plants perform almost perfectly in Colorado gardens, with a long bloom period (nice foliage counts, too), less fuss and maximum enjoyment.
Agastache may be tricky to pronounce — “a-gas-ta-key,” or “ag-a-stack-ee” — but these perennial plants are winners for gardens that thrive on tough love and less water. Its genus name, agastache, comes from the Greek words agan meaning “very much,” and stachys meaning an “ear of wheat,” which references the flower spikes. Their popularity is due to the dedication of local plant professionals and the Plant Select® program, which is known for testing, choosing and bringing to market plants that grow well and look great in our sunny, dry, mile-high climate.
Also known as hummingbird mints or hyssop, agastaches range in eye-catching colors from pink, orange, purple, yellow, red, white (rare) or blue. Their aromatic flowers and foliage are appealing not only to us but also to our favorite garden visitors — bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In the agastache genus there are more than 20 species, most of which are native to North America, that grow well along the Front Range (some up to 8,000 feet).They need lots of sun and lean (not rich), well-drained soil. Agastaches will be short-lived plants with too much water, fertility or slow draining clay soils and shade. They grow as clumps, forming tall, flowering spikes of various colors and sizes depending on species. No need to worry about diseases or pest insects. Use their leaves fresh or dried to flavor tea and the lovely flowers to garnish salads or fruit dishes. Let their foliage remain through the winter so they can toughen up their cold hardiness, cut back to four inches in the spring. Check out some of these well-known and newer agastaches hybrids. Availability in local garden centers should be good, but spring planting is recommended.
- ‘Blue Fortune’ (A. ‘Blue Fortune’) – this hardy, long bloomer with powder blue flowers has large green licorice-scented foliage and grows 2-3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Quite adaptable in any garden, it can take more moisture than other hyssops and some shade. Attracts bees, butterflies and is resistant to rabbits and deer. Looks great planted with black-eyed Susan, false sunflower, blue fescue grass and globe thistle.
- Sunset Hyssop (A. rupestris ‘Sunset Hyssop’) is a well-known classic, but popular as ever because of its stunning “sunset” color combination of red, yellow and lavender tubular flowers and selection as one of the first plants chosen in the inaugural year of the Plant Select® program — 1997. Also deer and rabbit resistant, this two-foot tall, root-beer scented beauty blooms from August to frost and is also available in seed for direct sowing next spring.
- Sonoran Sunset (A. canna ‘Sinning’) — another admired Plant Select® agastache blooms more like a large-flowered raspberry pink salvia. Blooming earlier in the summer, this showy hyssop may become the star of the garden. Known as double bubble mint, this 15-inch compact bloomer will look great paired with lamb’s ear or silver sage, ornamental grasses, daisies and evening primrose. Agastaches also grow well in containers.
Seven-son Flower Tree (Heptacodium miconioides) may remind east coast gardeners of Northern Crape Myrtle trees with its tiered branching and attractive late summer blooms. Seven-son flower is less well known but should be on more must-plant lists with its long, glossy green leaves and fragrant showy whorls of small flowers (seven in each whorl). In the fall the showier cherry-red sepals will trigger a second look.
Another Plant Select® winner, Seven-son flower is a fast growing, vase-shaped small tree or large shrub (20 feet tall by 10 feet wide) and a late season nectar source for bees and butterflies. The attractive peeling bark during winter offers another season of interest. Hardy to 7,500 feet, plant Seven-son flower in full sun to partial shade with moderate to dry watering conditions once established. Seven-son flower can be planted as single specimens or near a patio where it can be viewed and admired. It looks great in border plantings or use several for screening. No pests or diseases to worry about with Seven-son flower. Many are planted at the Denver Zoo, so catch them in bloom in a few weeks before school starts to remind you to plant some of your own. Call around for availability; more local nurseries are carrying Seven-son flower.
Betty Cahill: http://gardenpunchlist.blogspot.com/
