Agastache aka Hummingbird Mint

Agastache is a genus of aromatic flowering herbaceous perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae. It contains 22 species, mainly native to North America, one species native to eastern Asia. The common names of the species are a variety of fairly ambiguous and confusing "hyssops" and "mints"; as a whole, the genus is known as giant hyssops or hummingbird mints. 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. Agastache plants are compact and bushy, upright herbaceous perennials with aromatic, marbled dark green and cream, lance-shaped leaves. They produce slender whorled spikes of tubular, two-lipped blue-purple flowers which are very attractive to pollinators all through summer to autumn. Some varieties are hardy, while others are frost tender and grown as annuals in cooler climates. Growing Agastache requires sun and well-drained soil. The leaves resemble catmint and are a dull green with heavy veining. These plants can grow 2 to 6 feet tall and continue to bloom until the first frost. The showy Agastache flowers come in a variety of colors and rise up off of stiff triangular stems. The blooms, comprised of many tiny florets, may be 3 to 4 inches long and begin to bloom from the top down, creating a unique appearance with slightly burnt-looking tips. Overall, Agastache is a striking and flavorful herb that adds interest to any garden.