Agastache

Taxobox
name = "Agastache"

---

image_caption = "Agastache 'Blue Fortune' "
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Lamiaceae
genus = "Agastache"
genus_authority = Gronov.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

"Agastache", is a genus of 9–12 species of perennial herbs in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern Asia (one species) and North America (the rest).

Most species are very upright, 0.5–3 m tall, with stiff, angular stems clothed in toothed-edged, lance shaped leaves ranging from 1–15 cm long and 0.5–11 cm broad depending on the species. Upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers develop at the stem tips in summer. The flowers are usually white, pink, mauve, or purple, with the bracts that back the flowers being of the same or a slightly contrasting color.

;Species
*"Agastache aurantiaca". Orange Hummingbird Mint. Mexico, SW USA (Arizona, New Mexico).
*"Agastache breviflora". TransPecos giant hyssop. Northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora), SW USA (Arizona).
*"Agastache cana". Texas Hummingbird Mint. SW USA (New Mexico, western Texas).
*"Agastache foeniculum". Giant or Anise Hyssop. From Arctic Canada to Colorado and Wisconsin.
*"Agastache mexicana". Mexican Giant Hyssop. Central Mexico.
*"Agastache nepetoides". Eastern North America from southern Ontario and southern Quebec south to Georgia.
*"Agastache pallida" (syn. "A. barberi"). Northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora), southwestern USA (Arizona).
*"Agastache pallidiflora". Southwestern USA (New Mexico, western Texas).
*"Agastache pringlei". Northern Mexico (Chihuahua), southwestern USA (New Mexico).
*"Agastache parvifolia". California.
*"Agastache rugosa". Korean Mint. Southeastern Russia (Primoriye), Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam.
*"Agastache rupestris". Threadleaf giant hyssop or Licorice Mint. Arizona, New Mexico.
*"Agastache scrophulariifolia". Eastern North America from southern Ontario south to Georgia.
*"Agastache wrightii". Southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico).
*"Agastache urticifolia". Western North America from British Columbia south to California and Nevada.

Cultivation

They are easily grown in moist, well-drained soil and prefer a sunny position. Winter hardiness varies; the hardiest is "A. foeniculum", hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 1 in the north of its range; "A. nepetoides", "A. rugosa", "A. scrophulariifolia" and "A. urticifolia" are hardy to zones 3–5 in the northern parts of their ranges. Propagate from seed or cuttings.

Medicinal uses

"Agastache rugosa" has a history of use in Chinese herbology.

References

* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?283 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Agastache"]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=100780 Flora of China: "Agastache"]
* [http://www.missouriplants.com/Whiteopp/Agastache_nepetoides_page.html Missouriplants: detailed description and photos of "A. nepetoides"]
*The PLANTS Database: [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AGWR Agastache wrightii]