Agastache 'Firebird'
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Common Name: giant hyssop
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Color: Orange, Red
Bloom Description: Coppery orange to coral
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Leaves: Fragrant
Wildlife: Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Deer
Uses: Culinary Herb, Suitable as Annual

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Performs poorly and may not survive winter in unamended clay soils. Drought and heat tolerant once established. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout the St. Louis area where it should be planted in a protected location and mulched in winter.

Noteworthy Characteristics

‘Firebird’ (A. coccinea x A. rupestris) features coppery-orange to coral flowers and aromatic gray-green foliage. Sweetly fragrant, tubular flowers in whorls bloom on erect, salvia-like spikes atop stems typically growing to 2-3’ tall. Flowers appear over a long June to September bloom period. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves have a strong mint scent, and may be used fresh or dry to flavor teas. Agastache comes from the Greek words for “much” (agan) and “grain stalk” (stachys) in reference to the flower spikes.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Rock gardens, borders, herb gardens or butterfly gardens. Also a good container plant.

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