Agastache, Mexican Hyssop, Hummingbird Mint 'Red Fortune'

The first year we had this one I didn't much care for it as the flowerheads were so thick and heavy, and the stems so fragile, that every...Read Moreday there'd be more broken stems laying on the ground. Then I started cutting it to the ground in BOTH March and August. Now the plants still gets 2+ feet tall, but the stems are no longer breaking as the flowerheads are not getting as big around (or producing so much seed!)

Planted on a small mound in compost and decomposed granite ammended clay soil, this plant lives on winter rain and whatever garden water it can get from a nearby plant that is watered once a month. The bases of our plants are shaded by surrounding plants and so aren't mulched by anything more than leaf litter from its neighbors, which is always removed before the winter rains set it.

The flowers on this one are the most gorgeous shade of pink that seems to blend well with every other color in our garden. Hummingbirds are vastly more attracted to this one than to other hummingbird plants in the area (including other agastaches and several native sages.)

Especially gorgeous planted in front of the taller growing 'Summer Breeze' and/or 'Ava'!

Last June (2007) I found Agastache 'Red Fortune' at a local nursery. It was growing in a one gallon pot and in full, gorgeous-gotta-have ...Read Morebloom. I bought two plants. Of all the agastaches, Red Fortune has, in my opinion, the most favorable flower color--a rich cerise red with a hint of purple and no orange. My plants grew about 24 inches tall and were in bloom most of the summer and fall. It is March 2008 now and both plants survived a soggy winter, (Zone 8b) planted in well-draining soil. There is a nice clump of new foliage about an inch tall that appears to be impervious to slugs, of which I have an abundance. In my experience, agastaches will root readily from semi-hard stem cuttings. I can't have too many Red Fortunes.

Bought 4 one-gallon pots of 'Red Fortune' this year. It is new to me and couldn't resist getting them. Beautiful and smells great. Mo...Read Morere plants for the little Hummers! Lean soil, excellent drainage and pea gravel on top (like all other Agastaches, Lavender and Penstemons).