Hummingbird Mint, Agastache
The common name really says it all. If you adore hummingbirds (who doesn’t) and want more (you betcha) to visit your garden, then consider adding some Agastache to your plantings. I’m always on the prowl for pollinator-friendly plants that don’t demand a lot of water or attention and have a lot to offer in the color department. This plant delivers on all fronts.
Hummingbird mint, also called anise hyssop or licorice mint, is a fragrant perennial herb with nectar-rich tubular flowers that come in an array of colors: red, apricot, yellow, purple, blue, red, and white. Turns out that the pink and orange-flowered Agastache are hummingbird magnets, while the blue-flowered ones are bee and butterfly favorites. Whichever color you choose, these pollinator powerhouses bloom summer to fall and can be quite versatile in the garden.
There are 22 Agastache species, a large number of which hail from the US Southwest and northern Mexico. This means it’s a great plant for high desert climates and xeriscapes where you could mix them with succulents, sedums, and other drought-tolerant plants. Or, you consider adding them to a meadow planted with ornamental grasses, rudbeckias, asters, and yarrows. Agastache is also ideal for narrow curbside beds mixed with other fragrant favorites like nepeta, lavender, and thyme.