The genus Agastache, commonly known as giant hyssop, consists of approximately 30 upright herbaceous perennials, most native to North America. Agastache hybrids often have more attractive flowers and better winter hardiness than species plants. The hybrid flowers come in various colors, such as red, orange, pink, yellow, and white. Typically, hybrids feature dense terminal spikes of small tubular flowers that bloom from mid-summer to fall in many-flowered verticillasters (false whorls) on 2-4' tall stiff square stems with opposite pairs of serrate, fragrant (anise/licorice-scented) gray-green to medium green leaves. The flowers are appealing to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
'Tutti-frutti' produces whorls 'of tiny, tube-shaped raspberry flowers densely packed into 6-10" terminal spikes on stiff, purple stems. The leaves are serrated, ovate-lanceolate, and pleasantly aromatic (lemon-scented). This plant tolerates summer heat and humidity and has a long late summer bloom, sometimes extending to the first frost.
Agastache plants grow well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun and can tolerate some light shade. Good soil drainage is crucial, as plants may not survive winter in hard clay soils that retain moisture. Once established, the plants tolerate heat and some dry soils. Deadheading spent flowers promotes additional bloom. Agastache hybrids are typically winter hardy to at least USDA Zone 6. For areas where winter survival may be an issue, it's advisable to plant them in protected locations (e.g., southern exposures) and leave leaf and flower stems over the winter for added protection. Sandy/gravelly mulches help protect plants and prevent rot. Hybrids grown from seed will usually not be faithful to the parent plant.
