Agastache Seeds,
Apricot Sprite

4.84 ReviewsSKU: #HB321Min. seed count: 35
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Description

(Agastache aurantiaca) Set off a blazing display of tangerine-colored fireworks in your garden with this phenomenal, fragrant agastache. This native wildflower’s blooms appear in mid to late summer. Plants reach 15 to 18 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. The foliage and flowers are delightfully fragrant, and the orange, trumpet-shaped blooms are highly attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Growing Tips: Apricot Sprite is a compact, mounding native agastache that puts on a vivid display of tangerine-orange trumpet-shaped blooms from midsummer through fall. Its spreading habit and moderate height make it an excellent front-of-border plant and a standout in pollinator gardens. Like other Southwest native agastaches, it thrives in lean, well-drained soils and demands excellent drainage, particularly through winter. The fragrant foliage and flowers are as attractive to hummingbirds and pollinators as they are to gardeners.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Agastache aurantiaca
Life Cycle
Perennial in zones 6–9
Sun Requirement
Full sun
Days to Germinate
14–21
Days to Maturity
90–100
Planting Depth
Surface sow
Plant Spacing
12 in.
Ideal Temperature
60–90°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

When to Grow

Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected frost date for the best chance of first-year bloom, or direct sow outdoors in early spring once soil can be worked. Seeds require light to germinate and should be surface sown without covering. A brief cold stratification period of two to four weeks may improve germination rates. In USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9, established plants are reliably perennial and will return each season without replanting; in colder zones, treat it as an annual or overwinter it in very well-drained soil. If you're not sure how to find your first and last frost dates, consult our blog post Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.

How to Sow and Plant

Surface sow seeds by pressing them lightly into moist, well-drained soil without covering. Apricot Sprite is well adapted to poor, sandy, and rocky soils—avoid heavy clay or poorly drained conditions, which are the primary cause of failure with Southwest native agastaches. Space transplants or thin seedlings to 18 to 24 inches apart to accommodate the plant's naturally wide, mounding habit. Rich or heavily amended soils are not necessary and may reduce plant longevity and fragrance intensity.

How to Grow

Apricot Sprite is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once established. Water regularly during the first season to support strong root development, then reduce irrigation significantly as plants mature. Excellent drainage is essential year-round and is particularly critical in winter, when wet soils are the most common cause of loss. Deadhead spent flower spikes to encourage continued blooming through the season, and cut plants back to the ground in early spring before new growth emerges.

How to Save Seeds

Apricot Sprite produces small seeds in clusters along the dried flower spike, typical of the Lamiacae family.

  • Allow a few flower spikes to dry fully on the plant at the end of the season
  • Harvest seed spikes by cutting and placing in a paper bag to capture any that fall
  • Dry thoroughly in a cool, well-ventilated location before cleaning
  • Store cleaned seeds in a sealed, labeled container in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 3 years

FAQ

What makes Apricot Sprite different from other agastache varieties?

Apricot Sprite is a compact, wide-spreading variety with vivid tangerine-orange blooms and a mounding habit, making it well suited to the front of borders and pollinator plantings where a lower, spreading form is desired.

Is Apricot Sprite suitable for hot, dry gardens?

Yes—as a native of the American Southwest, it thrives in heat, full sun, and well-drained to dry soils. It is an excellent choice for water-wise, xeriscape, and rock garden plantings.

How do I keep Apricot Sprite blooming through the season?

Deadheading spent flower spikes regularly encourages continuous bloom production from midsummer through fall. A light trim after the main flush of flowers can also help stimulate a second wave of blooms.

Browse our full range of hyssop and agastache seeds.

Customer reviews

4.8 / 5 4 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Fragrant foliage: Leaves smell wonderful when brushed; kids love to rub them.

  • Lovely tea: Makes a floral, fruity tea.

  • Tough perennial: Takes rocky soil, part shade and little water; returns each spring.

  • Heads up: Plants stay small the first year; start early and be patient.

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