Agastache mexicana

Agastache mexicana
Agastache mexicana 'Toronjil Morado'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Agastache
Species:	A. mexicana
Binomial name
Agastache mexicana

Agastache mexicana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Mexican giant hyssop. It is native to southern North America and can grow 50 to 60 cm tall. The leaves are lanceolate or oval-lanceolate. The plant is perennial and self-fertile. Its young lemon scented leaves are used in herbal teas and the leaves are also often used in flavoring foods.

This plant can thrive in arid or semirarid regions, but it is necessary for the seed to pass a cold and humid season which break dormancy in order to produce germination.

For a proper development it requires alkaline or neutral, aerated and light soil, otherwise the excessive humidity, compactness and damping will putrify the root system.

This species requires direct sunlight or partial shade, but doesn't do well in interior corners or under taller plants; thess situations will make the plant tend to yellowing and loss of leaves, absence of flowering and even death.

Sunny days and cooler nights will produce more intense aroma in the leaves. It can produce flowers when it reaches 1 month old, but requires at least 3 days of natural or artificial watering for two weeks.

References

• Harold Lint and Carl Epling (1945). A Revision of Agastache, American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 207–230.
• Entry at PFAF (Plants For A Future) database