Agastache, Giant Hyssop, Hummingbird Mint, Anise Hyssop 'Summer Breeze'

This was our first (and still my favorite) agastache. It has proven to be tough as nails in our inland San Diego garden. It's planted in ...Read Morefull sun and clay soil that was ammended with compost and a good deal of DG at planting to loosen the soil. The plant is never fertilized or mulched and lives on winter rain and then whatever garden water it can get when a nearby pelargonium is watered deeply once a month. All this and it blooms prolifically from mid-spring to late fall (having been cut to ground each year after the last rains in the winter).

After reading about how prolifically agastaches reseed, it's something of a mystery why we've never found a volunteer. In early August I collected some seeds and planted them in 50/50 sand/peat and nearly every seed germinated within 3 days. Out of 4 attempts to propagate this plant via cuttings in various seasons using various media, we have just 1 viable plant.

The hummingbirds love this one and can been seen whizzing around the blossoms every day. In addition, the flowers are edible make the most lovely addition additions to casual flower arrangements.

I already have hummers due to my torch lilies but the seem to have abandoned them in favor of the summer breeze agastache. I still have ...Read Moresome Blue Fortune agastache that hasn't bloomed yet. That was last years favorite. I am curious to see which one the hummers prefer.