Agastache Plants

Why Agastache belongs in your Landscape.

Agastache belongs here because it delivers big, visible results when you want a border to perform through heat. It’s widely described as a sun-loving perennial that thrives in well-drained, lean soils and holds up in dry, sunny climates—exactly the conditions that burn out fussier plants midseason. If your purchase intent is “reliable summer color without constant watering,” agastache checks the box.

It also belongs because it’s a true pollinator-builder. Flowers are documented to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees—so you’re not just buying blooms, you’re buying movement and life in the garden. That’s a stronger value proposition than “pretty petals,” and it’s why agastache works so well in pollinator gardens, cottage borders, and cutting beds.

From a practical gardening standpoint, agastache is a smart “multiples plant.” One plant looks nice, but three to five planted as a drift looks designed. Use it to echo color along a walkway, lift the mid-border with vertical spikes, or create a repeating rhythm that makes a whole bed feel intentional and finished.

Finally, many selections are often considered deer- and rabbit-resistant due to aromatic foliage (never a guarantee—just a helpful edge in many landscapes). That matters for buyers who want beauty without waking up to a “pruned by wildlife” surprise.

How they grow and look when they’re thriving.

Agastache grows as an herbaceous perennial with upright stems and showy flower spikes that can bloom from midsummer into fall in many climates. The look is clean and energetic: vertical spires above aromatic foliage that reads fresh even when the summer heat gets serious. Colors range across blues, purples, pinks, oranges, and more, depending on species/cultivar, so it’s easy to match your palette.

For gardeners who like “known performers,” ‘Blue Fortune’ is a favorite for that lavender-blue spike look and a strong pollinator draw. It’s commonly listed around 2–3 feet tall and roughly 1.5–2 feet wide—perfect for the mid-border where you want height without blocking sightlines. If you want foliage color as part of the show, cultivars like ‘Golden Jubilee’ are perfect for bright leaf contrast paired with blue flowers and are noted for their drought tolerance.

Visually, agastache plays well with coneflowers, rudbeckia, ornamental grasses, salvia, and roses—anything that benefits from a vertical “spark” and lighter texture. The overall effect is airy, modern-cottage, and pollinator-forward without looking wild or messy.

The key aesthetic win: agastache looks “high effort” while behaving “low effort,” as long as you keep it out of wet feet and heavy shade.

Where they work best for quick results.

Agastache performs hardest in full sun with well-drained soil—especially in beds that dry out quickly, gravelly borders, rock gardens, and hot edges along driveways or sidewalks. It can tolerate part shade (often better with afternoon shade in hotter regions), but bloom and sturdiness are best when the plant gets real sun and avoids soggy conditions.

If you’re planting for function, agastache is a strong choice for pollinator strips, sunny foundation beds, and “low-water” designs where you want perennials that don’t demand daily attention once established. It also works beautifully in mixed borders where you need a mid-height perennial to bridge low mounds and taller shrubs.

Spacing is your shortcut to a better-looking planting. A practical spacing range for many agastache types is 18–24 inches (variety-dependent), with close spacing for quicker fullness and wider spacing for more airflow in humid climates. If you’re massing a drift, keep spacing consistent—uniform spacing is what makes the planting read intentional from the street.

Container use is also doable if drainage is excellent and the pot isn’t kept constantly wet—think “dry-side containers” in full sun with a gritty mix and careful watering.

Care that’s simple and reliable.

Agastache care is simple when you follow the plant’s personality: sun, airflow, and drainage first. It’s repeatedly noted that too much water or poorly drained soil can lead to crown/root rot and fungal issues, especially in humid conditions—so avoid heavy, wet sites and don’t overwater. Water regularly while roots establish, then shift to deeper, less frequent watering; many guides describe agastache as drought-tolerant once established.

Skip the heavy fertilizer. We caution that rich soil or overfertilizing can cause weak, floppy growth and fewer flowers; lean toward average soil with light compost rather than “feeding it to death.” Deadheading can extend bloom and keep plants tidy, and light pruning can encourage a fuller habit.

For seasonal cleanup, most experts recommend waiting until spring to cut back old stems (especially in colder climates), then trimming them back by about a third to stimulate fresh growth. That “leave it up, cut it down in spring” approach also protects crowns from winter wet.

Do those basics, and you get the payoff buyers want: long-blooming color, a steady pollinator parade, and a sun border that stays strong through summer—backed by the We Grow Together Promise.