Comments on: Agastache: “Super Stars” of the Perennial World – Part 2

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:10:49 +0000

Hi David,

I have an agastache that is in a container and has done great for 3=4 years. However this spring I am not seeing any green yet. I have not cut off the dead growth yet because I was waiting to see if it was going to come back. Any ideas? do I assume it is dead?

By: Fawn Palmer

Fawn Palmer — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:40:13 +0000

November 10, 2010. We are enjoying our tenth day of observing a Rufous/Allen’s hummingbird Selasphorus which is coming in to our nectar feeder. This sits right in front of our living room picture window so we have front row seats. She/he is fit and fine, even though temps have dropped to just above freezing for several nights. Nectaring on Agastache we have not yet observed. This summer we enjoyed the Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris until about the last week of September. On October 9th, I was in the garden and a hummingbird flew over my head low and stopped to nectar at Agastache ‘Tutti Frutti’. Do not know what species since the bird was backlit in bright fall sunlight. Love these Agastache…still blooming until frost for us here in the tidwater Northern Neck of Virginia, zone 7.

By: ML

ML — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:02:35 +0000

Live in Taos and the agastache is a highlight in my gardens. Visitors are amazed by this plant, and it is continually covered with hummers. Thanks for bringing so many varieties to us. There’s always one to fit in any spot.

By: Soni Wolfe

Soni Wolfe — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:49:07 +0000

I LOVE Agastache!! Live in Wisconsin & would like to know the zone
toleraces of the ones you talk about. Thinking they won’t grow in my climate! Soni

By: David Salman

David Salman — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:13:29 +0000

Tammy:
Thanks for the feedback on Agastache ‘Shades of Orange’. It’s not a super cold hardy type here in New Mexico so it’s gratifying to know that it’s thriving in milder winter climate like DC. Glad to hear you’ve discovered an good way of creating fast drainage in your clay soil. Otherwise your ‘Shades of Orange’ wouldn’t be very happy.

By: Tammy Schmitt

Tammy Schmitt — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:11:59 +0000

A million thanks for selling an agastache that does well in the hot, humid southeast!! I live near Washington DC and am growing Agastache ‘Shades of Orange’ with great success!! I’ve met other devotees of your catalog at local garden centers and we’re always thrilled to find an HCG plant that doesn’t melt in our humidity. By ammending the soil with LOTS of growers grit or Perma Til, we can trick our local clay into draining fast enough to keep these beauties alive!! Bravo to you!!

By: David Salman

David Salman — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:07:53 +0000

Theresa,
I’m gratified to hear that you’re enjoying this wonderful group of perennials. Generally, these plants are very low care and flower dependably.

Regarding your 2 yr. large, non-blooming plants, this is most happens when the plants have been given too much nitrogen rich fertilizer or compost during the growing season. This causes lush, green growth with few flowers. Is it possible these plants were over fertilized?

Crowding are too much water doesn’t prevent flowering with these plants.

Don’t cut down the stems of the non-bloomers; wait until mid-spring. Watch the plants carefully during the growing season. If they lack vigor and/or don’t set flowers by mid-summer, you may want to replace the plants with fresh plants or volunteer seedlings that will invariably show up in your garden next spring.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:21:47 +0000

David,
I have a couple agastache plants that are planted in a southern exposure spot. They bloomed and bloomed so beautifully the first summer, but this year, they are large, putting out a lot of stems, but the blooms never materialize. I have other agastache in other parts of the garden and they are doing fine. I don’t think I have done anything different, but could this be from too much watering or could they be too crowded in this particular spot? Would it help to trim down or deadhead now (mid-September)? By the way, we are up in Taos, at 7300′. I have bought all my agastache from High Country Gardens and love these plants.
Thanks for any advice you may have.

By: David Salman

David Salman — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:02:37 +0000

Kathy:
In general Agastache like the same growing conditions; full to half day of sun, a lean (infertile soil) with fast drainage and not too much supplemental watering once established.

By: David Salman

David Salman — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:00:41 +0000

Kathy;
Agastache and yarrow should be deadheaded during the growing season to keep them looking tidy. If you have many types of Agastache they will re-seed somewhat, so deadheading will prevent this. Russian sage should be left standing until the spring, as it doesn’t stop blooming until hard frost in the fall.

All three should be cut back hard in mid-spring. Agastache form a mound of new growth in early spring and it is easy to see where the old stems should be cut. Yarrow should be cut to the ground. Russian Sage should be cut to a height of 6-12″.