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Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 8:33
| One of the favorite nectaring plants in my garden. Constantly in bloom from early summer 'til late fall. The abundance of blooms allows it to keep a crowd of butterflies and bees all day long. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a light blue...I also grow Agastache 'Cotton Candy' for the first time this year. A bit too early to predict the comparitive qualities between the two. Usually has multiple butterflies nectaring at the same time. Thanks for taking a look.
Bob New Agastache 'Cotton Candy'
Agastache foeniculum 'Anise hyssop'
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by MsMorningSong 9 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 10:01
| Very lovely. Do the flowers have any type of perfume to attract, or do the butterflies recognize through color or some other way? |
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| I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Agastache foeniculum is native to North America. Then I saw it is not native to Ohio :( I then found that some Agastache is native to Ohio so I'll have to do a little more research on which would be useful to me. Thanks for the heads-up. KC |
Here is a link that might be useful: Agastache foeniculum
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| MsMorningSong, The Agastaches are strongly fragrant. As a matter of fact, they are commonly referred to as "hummingbird mints". I usually see hummingbirds daily on these and other plants in my butterfly garden. Bob |
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- Posted by spaceman13 6b (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 7:59
| Great pics Bob! I have "Apache Sunset" a peach colored cultivar that I moved in spring to a sunnier spot. They are growing MUCH bigger, and are just starting to bloom. |
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- Posted by catherinet z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 10:03
| As usual, great pics Bob! Is Agastache the same thing as "hyssop"? |
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| Catherinet, Agastache is a genus of about a dozen species, one of which...Agastache foeniculum is the one that is referred to as Giant, or Anise, Hyssop. Bob |
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- Posted by catherinet z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 11:46
| Thanks Bob, I have some stachys "pink cotton candy" and "hummelo". They look alot like Agastache. Are they somehow related? |
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- Posted by jilliebean9700 7a (NC) (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 12:08
| beautiful. i want one but most say they dont do well in clay-does anyone know of a cultivar that will thrive in nc clay soils?? |
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| Jilliebean, I grow agastache (which I call bee-sicles) in our hard, red clay soil with great success. We've had some in the ground for 5 years, bigger and better each year. It is important that the soil drains reasonably well, though. Even clay soil can be terrific for growing all kinds of plants. I wish I could remember the variety, but I can't. I'm sorely tempted to order some of the pinkish ones this year. I keep some cut back so that the bloom period will last longer but I just HAVE to let some of it go to seed. It's something else to see those plants covered up with feeding gold finches. Catherinet, stachys and agastache are in the same plant family, Lamiaceae/Labiatae (the mints). |
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- Posted by misssherry Z8/9MS (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 13:36
| Beautiful pictures, Bob! Hmmmm..... so agastache can be grown in Rhizo's part of Alabama. 'Wonder if it will thrive in the Gulf Coastal Southeast? Sherry |
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- Posted by catherinet z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 14:25
| Thanks rhizo. |
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- Posted by jilliebean9700 7a (NC) (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 15:09
| i will have to give them a try then i guess. |
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- Posted by catherinet z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 15:36
| I'm in zone 5. Sometimes they overwinter and sometimes they don't. They also seem to get mildew easily. They also attracted some new bugs. I forget the names of them...something like 5 or 9-spotted beetles. I'm growing them in more sunshine now and they seem to like that better. I wish they would come back every year. They're really great. |
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| I'm in Northern Alabama, not too far from the Tennessee border, if that helps. |
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