Agastache Growing Guide

BAKER CREEK GROWING GUIDE

Vol. 01 — Herbs Updated Spring 2026

01 / Overview

The plant, in brief.

A beloved herb of the mint family, Agastache combines beauty, resilience, and remarkable flavor — known for its sweet, anise-like aroma and the constant hum of pollinators it draws to the garden.

Agastache is remarkably forgiving once established, thriving in full sun and well-drained soils where many softer herbs would struggle. Its upright spikes of lavender to violet flowers are striking in the garden, and highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects — making it an excellent companion plant in diversified growing systems.

Unlike more delicate culinary herbs, Agastache prefers a lighter touch. Moderate fertility, good airflow, and restrained watering produce the strongest plants and the most concentrated flavor. Overly rich or wet conditions tend to reduce vigor and invite disease, while slightly drier soils encourage the aromatic qualities that make this plant so distinctive.

02 / At a Glance

Growing facts.

01

Botanical name

A. foeniculum

02

Life cycle

Perennial/ Zones 4–9

03

Germination

7–14days

04

Light

Fullsun

05

Spacing

12–24in.

06

Height

24–48in.

03 / The Calendar

Planting by zone.

Zone	Start Indoors	Transplant Out	Direct Sow	Harvest	Seed Set
3–4	Late Mar–Apr	Late May–early Jun	—	Mid-summer	Late Aug–Sep
5–6	Early–mid Mar	Mid–late May	Mid-May	Jun–Sep	Late summer
7–8	Feb	Apr	Apr	Late spring–fall	Late summer
9–10	—	—	Oct–Nov & Jan–Feb	Winter–early summer	Late spring

04 / Continuance

Saving seed.

Allow flower spikes to fully mature and dry on the plant. Harvest when seed heads turn brown and release seed easily. Dry further indoors, then thresh and clean. Stored cool and dry, Agastache seed remains viable for three to five years — a quiet inheritance for seasons ahead.

3–5

Years viable

1

Plant, thousands of seeds

∞

Seasons of keeping

05 / The Collection

Varieties in stock.

№ 01 Classic Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop Aromatic edible herb with fragrant leaves and flowers; popular for tea and pollinator gardens. № 02 Pollinator Agastache 'Apache Sunset' Apache Sunset Colorful, fragrant agastache variety favored by pollinators. № 03 Compact Agastache 'Apricot Sprite' Apricot Sprite Compact ornamental agastache with colorful blooms and strong pollinator appeal. № 04 New Agastache 'Astello Indigo' Astello Indigo New indigo-toned fragrant flowering variety suited to pollinator gardens. № 05 Mix Agastache spp. Fragrant Delight Mix Blend of highly fragrant agastache varieties with colorful blooms and strong scent. № 06 Ornamental Agastache 'Lavender Martini' Lavender Martini Lavender-toned blooms; ornamental and nectar-rich for pollinators. № 07 Heirloom Agastache rugosa 'Liquorice White' Liquorice White Hardy perennial with white flower spikes, minty aroma; great for tea and pollinator gardens. № 08 Drought-Tol. Agastache 'Navajo Sunset' Navajo Sunset Warm-toned flowering variety; drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly. № 09 Pollinator Agastache 'Raspberry Daiquiri' Raspberry Daiquiri Bright raspberry-colored blooms; fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies. № 10 Aromatic Agastache rugosa Rose Mint Rose-toned flowers with minty fragrance; suitable for tea and ornamental use. № 11 Vibrant Agastache 'Sunset Yellow' Sunset Yellow Yellow-flowering agastache; vibrant addition to pollinator gardens. № 12 Hummingbird Agastache cana 'Heather Queen' Texas Hummingbird Mint 'Heather Queen' Designed for hummingbird attraction; drought-tolerant with long-lasting blooms.