Agastache

Agastache, is a genus of 9–12 species of perennial herbs in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern Asia (one species) and North America (the rest).

Most species are very upright, 0.5–3 m tall, with stiff, angular stems clothed in toothed-edged, lance shaped leaves ranging from 1–15 cm long and 0.5–11 cm broad depending on the species. Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers develop at the stem tips in summer. The flowers are usually white, pink, mauve, or purple, with the bracts that back the flowers being of the same or a slightly contrasting color. Leaf tips can be eaten and made into teas.

Species

• Agastache aurantiaca. Orange Hummingbird Mint. Mexico, SW USA (Arizona, New Mexico).
• Agastache breviflora. TransPecos giant hyssop. Northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora), SW USA (Arizona).
• Agastache cana. Texas Hummingbird Mint. (Wild Hyssop, Mosquito Plant, Mexican Hyssop), SW USA (New Mexico, Western Texas).
• Agastache cusickii. Cusick's Giant Hyssop. NW USA.
• Agastache foeniculum. Giant or Anise Hyssop. From Arctic Canada to Colorado and Wisconsin.
• Agastache mexicana. Mexican Giant Hyssop. Central Mexico.
• Agastache nepetoides. Eastern North America from southern Ontario and southern Quebec south to Georgia.
• Agastache pallida (syn. A. barberi). Northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora), southwestern USA (Arizona).
• Agastache pallidiflora. Southwestern USA (New Mexico, western Texas).
• Agastache pringlei. Northern Mexico (Chihuahua), southwestern USA (New Mexico).
• Agastache parvifolia. California.
• Agastache rugosa. Korean Mint. Southeastern Russia (Primoriye), Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam.
• Agastache rupestris. Threadleaf giant hyssop or Licorice Mint. Arizona, New Mexico.
• Agastache scrophulariifolia. Eastern North America from southern Ontario south to Georgia.
• Agastache wrightii. Southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico).
• Agastache urticifolia. Western North America from British Columbia south to California and Nevada.

Cultivation

They are easily grown in moist, well-drained soil and prefer a sunny position. Winter hardiness varies; the hardiest is A. foeniculum, hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 1 in the north of its range; A. nepetoides, A. rugosa, A. scrophulariifolia and A. urticifolia are hardy to zones 3–5 in the northern parts of their ranges. Propagate from seed or cuttings. Popular cultivars include A. cana 'Heather Queen'.

Medicinal uses

Agastache rugosa has a history of use in Chinese herbology.

References

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Agastache
• Flora of China: Agastache
• Missouriplants: detailed description and photos of A. nepetoides
• The PLANTS Database: Agastache wrightii
• Plants for a Future