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Wendy's wish.need to move, but when? by teacup754 Sep 12, 2015 6:54 PM 13
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Enjoying Blue Ensign today on August 27 by Sheridragonfly Sep 7, 2015 5:08 PM 4
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My "small" Salvia bed by jg0613 Sep 6, 2015 4:16 PM 3
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Little Kiss have you grown it? by Sheridragonfly Sep 1, 2015 5:53 PM 5
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down the road trades by duane456 Aug 27, 2015 11:25 PM 1
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Mail Order Places To Buy Agastaches by Marilyn Aug 27, 2015 11:18 PM 20
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I have salvia seeds by sequoia Aug 17, 2015 6:26 PM 3
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Hummingbird drinking from black/blue salvia by Sheridragonfly Aug 3, 2015 1:52 PM 2
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The Roseleaf Sage Group by FBTS Jun 30, 2015 8:44 PM 1
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salvia in pots by duane456 Jun 9, 2015 9:53 PM 3
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Salvia in need of an ID by jvdubb Jun 9, 2015 9:57 AM 2
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Agastache Summer Love by Kabby May 28, 2015 4:23 PM 6
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Apricot Salvia spathacea by FBTS May 24, 2015 9:58 AM 3
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Blue Ensign a treasure for me! by Sheridragonfly May 20, 2015 1:21 AM 1
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Truly perennial Agastaches by Joy May 17, 2015 2:45 AM 13
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Two Of Your Zone 7 Elk Salvias Overwintered In Containers Here! by Marilyn May 9, 2015 7:17 PM 2
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Something is turning my Black and Blues into lacework!! by riverman123 May 5, 2015 6:59 PM 6
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Agastache 'Kudos Yellow' by FBTS Apr 24, 2015 11:49 PM 5
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Salvia Guru by FBTS Apr 24, 2015 8:38 PM 0
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Trouble over wintering Salvias by jvdubb Apr 12, 2015 10:16 AM 5

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Recent photos from our
Anise Hyssops database:

Recent comments from our
Anise Hyssops database:

  • This is a North American native species that is often confused with the East Asian species Korean Mint (Agastache rugosa) or Anise Hyssop (Agastache 'Blue Fortune'), which looks like a cultivar of it or a hybrid with it as a parent, and I have seen native plant nurseries use pictures of what looks like the East Asian species and sell it under the name of the North American native species. Many of the photos on this profile look like the East Asian species to me.

    They look quite similar and have a similar anise aroma, but the North American native has glossier leaves that tend to be darker green with teeth that are not as rounded. If you look at the underside of the leaf closely, the North American species is said to have very dense small hairs on the underside, whereas the East Asian species has more scattered larger hairs, densest around veins. (This doesn't seem to hold true for my seedling plants, which I thought were the North American native, so perhaps my hand lens isn't good enough, or it is only true of mature leaves or it is not true of all genetic variants or that my plant is a hybrid between these two species.) The East Asian species often has an indented leaf base (a more heart-shaped leaf) and the leaves tend to be a bit wider in proportion to the length.

    These differences are reported on a PDF produced by Terry Serres for Big River Big Woods, the chapter of Wild Ones in the Twin Cities. It may be that some of these differences are not completely accurate or that there are better ways of distinguishing the species, or that there are hybrids between Agastache species that also need to be distinguished from Agastache foeniculum and Agastache rugosa. I tend to go on the rule of thumb that the East Asian species tends to have denser flower clusters without gaps, and wider leaves directly under the flower clusters, but I am not sure if that holds true either, looking at photos of Agastache rugosa on this site. I think more research on the differences is warranted and hopefully more native plant nurseries will get clued in to this problem and make sure they are selling the genuine North American species.
  • From the specialists in hummingbird mints (Agastache) comes a new award-winning variety that features foot-long spikes of rose-pink flowers, a raspberry red calyx, and sweetly scented foliage. 'Ava' has won the 2005 Green Thumb award from the Mailorder Gardening Association.

    The flowering starts in midsummer and, unlike other agastaches, the calyxes keep their color right until frost. After the second growing season, this perennial can reach 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. 'Ava' is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10, grows best in full sun on well-drained, compost-amended soil, and is rabbit and deer resistant. Fertilize in midsummer and leave the flower stems on the plants for winter color. Cut it back in spring.
  • Plants that combine beauty with edibility are in vogue, and a new selection in the mint family fits this bill. Agastache 'Blue Fortune' has anise-scented leaves (hence its common name of anise hyssop) and purplish blue flower spikes that are wildly attractive to butterflies. This cross between A. foeniculum and A. rugosa was developed in Holland and features the best of both species--good plant vigor, better flowering habit than anise hyssop, and hardiness to zone 4. It has an upright growth habit (to 3 feet tall in warm climates) but spreads only 1 to 2 feet wide. Dense, colorful flower spikes appear as early as May and June in zones 7 through 9, a couple of months later in zones 4 through 6. Its leaves make a licorice-tasting tea.

    'Blue Fortune' grows best in full sun but tolerates part shade as well as a wide range of soil types and soil moisture. Use it as an accent plant or in masses.

    'Blue Fortune' plants are widely available.
  • It features smoky gray, finely cut leaves on a 20-inch-tall plant. 'Apache Sunset' has salmon-orange flowers that emerge in midsummer and last until frost.

    Like other Agastaches, it has aromatic foliage, too. The leaves have been described as smelling like licorice, mint, or even root beer when crushed. Whatever the fragrance, 'Apache Sunset' is a brightly colored, easy-to-grow, long-blooming perennial for your border that butterflies and hummingbirds will love as well.
  • Another beautiful flowering Hummingbird Mint that was introduced by Suncrest Nurseries Inc. in CA.
  • » More comments
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