Saturday, August 29, 2009

Mexican hyssop

I'm quite fond of hyssops (Agastache spp).

Southwestern U.S. and Mexican natives, they include all sorts of delightful plants that are well-suited to our often droughty summers.

Hummingbirds like to visit their flowers, and they're drought-tolerant, which first got me interested in them , but their variety of forms and flower shapes is equally entrancing.

I planted Mexican hyssop (Agastache mexicana) in an oak half-barrel near the porch early in the summer. The hummingbirds have been enjoying it.

4 comments:

Janet said...

I am just getting acquainted with Agastache. It is incredible how many colors and how different the foliage on this plant. I like the bold colors of 'Tutti Fruitti'.

SNJGardener said...

I have Agastache Rupestins (which I started from seed and I saw its first humming bird just the week before last. Its flower is a pale orange.

lkw said...

I think Agastache species are a winner, at least in hot dry summers! In unusually wet ones (such as the NE US this summer, I'm not sure.

Dave, I'm glad you've had a hummingbird visiting yours, and Janet, you'll enjoy exploring some of the other species, too!

Gail said...

I love this plant but it struggles in clay soil or I would have it everywhere there was enough sun shine.
Planting it in a container might be the best idea! gail

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