These native flowers go by many common names: Hummingbird Mint, Agastache, Hummingbird Anise, or Hyssop (their Latin names always start with Agastache). Whatever you want to call them, they are pollinator and hummingbird magnets. They also smell amazing—a little like licorice. In the summer, tall stalks are covered in tiny, bright flowers. Leave them alone in the fall and watch them become seed-filled bird feeders. Hummingbird Mint is an easy-to-grow perennial that is excellent for any sunny garden. Scroll on to meet some different types and find planting tips.
Pollinator heaven = Hummingbird Mint
Dig Deeper
Explore the history, types, and where to plant native Hummingbird Mint
Table of Contents
Hummingbird Mint is truly one of the easiest native flowers to grow and once planted, you can enjoy it for years. It is also one of the longest-blooming native flowers, offering up bright flowers for 4-6 weeks in the summer and early fall. Dozens of cultivars provide many color options (although we prefer true native species if you can find them.) In this article, we’ll talk about their benefits, introduce a few types, and share some sources on where to find some for your garden.
Let’s dig in with a basic question:
Why plant Hummingbird Mint?
Native plants like Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) have been around North America for thousands of years. They have lived through every drought, blizzard, or weather event. They know (and thrive) in the soil and weather of their home area. All they need is rain to thrive.
Native plants are always the most resilient, easy to care for, and beautiful choices for landscaping. They require minimal care (especially compared to lawns) and can return decades of beauty.
False Blue Indigo is deer-proof
Deer do NOT eat False Blue Indigo. If you’re worried about deer nibbling your garden, planting False Blue Indigo is good native gardening choice.
Do hummingbirds like Hummingbird Mint?
Oh yes—Agastache is a hummingbird favorite! The tall stalk of 360-degree flowers is perfect for hummingbirds to access. If you’re looking for other hummingbird favorites, make sure to plant Hummingbird Mint alongside Cardinal Flower, Coral Honeysuckle, and Bee Balm.
Is Hummingbird Mint invasive?
Some gardeners get concerned that Hummingbird Mint can reseed itself with abandon in a garden, taking over other plants. To keep Hummingbird Mint in check:
- In the spring, pull out shoots that are growing too close together in the spring. Put these shoots in pots for neighbors so they can enjoy some (free!) Hummingbird Mint in their garden, too.
- In the fall, cut the tops off before the seed can spread. The bad news about this method is that it removes seeds for songbirds.
Now that we’ve talked about the benefits and tricks for stopping Hummingbird Mint’s spread, let’s meet some native options.
Native Types of Hummingbird Mint
There are about 10-15 species of Agastache native to North America that can go by the “Hummingbird Mint” name. (The number ranges between books and botanical sources.) Here are some of the species you may find at native plant nurseries and online sellers:
Lavender or Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Native to the upper range of the United States and most of Canada, these tall purple flowers remind you of lavender. (Not that this plant needs another name, but ‘North American Lavender’ is fitting.) Most cultivars come from this native species (more on cultivars in a few paragraphs.)
Sunset Hyssop
Agastache rupestris
Tall, fiery stems of orange-red flowers emerge like tiny flowered flames in the summer. Which is fitting, since this native loves the heat of the Southwest. Native to just New Mexico and Arizona.
Giant Yellow Hyssop
Agastache nepetoides
A pile of verdant leaves frames tiny buttery yellow flowers. It is a wonderful companion for other tall natives like Culver’s Root. Native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada.
There are a few more native species of Hummingbird Mint that are hard to find in plant nurseries or online seed sellers but are native to North America. Other species include:
4. Texas Hummingbird Mint (Agastache cana)
5. New Mexico Giant Hyssop (Agastache pallidiflora)
6. Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop (Agastache urticifolia)
7. Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)
8. Cusick’s Giant Hyssop (Agastache cusickii)
9. Short-flowered Giant Hyssop (Agastache breviflora)
10. Small-leaved Giant Hyssop (Agastache parvifolia)
11. Pringle’s Giant Hyssop (Agastache pringlei)
Hummingbird Mint cultivars offer dozens of color options
Besides these native species, there are dozens of cultivar options with different colors, heights, and leaf shapes. A cultivar is a plant curated by humans to look or behave a certain way. You’ll always be able to spot a cultivar by a cheeky marketing name in ‘single quotes’ in the plant name.
Some Hummingbird Mint cultivars include:
- Agastache ‘Black Adder’ is a hybrid between two native Agastache species: A. rugosum and A. foeniculum. Its cultivar name ‘Black’ references its buds, which are black before the purple flowers burst forth. (Another native plant named for its bud color is Redbud.)
- Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ has tiny blue-purple flowers against gray-green stems. Think of it like a pastel, miniature-flower-filled option.
- Agastache ‘Acapulco Orange’ looks similar to the native Sunset Hyssop in its bright orange-red flowers.
Cultivars add variety to our gardens with their different colors, heights, and shapes each year. However, they can also present challenges. Some botanists and horticulturists are concerned that cultivars may introduce new genetic material to native species, potentially negatively impacting future plant populations.
That’s why, when possible, we have a suggestion:
Native vs. Cultivar
Plant true native plants whenever possible. Cultivars (short for CULTivated VARieties) are selected and made by humans and do not offer the same benefits to bugs, birds, and animals that native plants do.
That said, sometimes we fall in love with a cultivar. And The Plant Native is not here to make gardening feel like a botany exam. Planting cultivars is always better than planting non-native plants.
How to plant Hummingbird Mint
Connecticut’s famous plant nursery White Flower Farm made an overview video introducing cultivar colors and care:
Where can I find Hummingbird Mint for my garden?
Finding specific native plants can sometimes be challenging—but it’s easier if you know where to look. Here are four sourcing ideas to help you find some Hummingbird Mint:
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Native Plant Nurseries
Our list of native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Online Native Plant Sellers
We've included 100+ online resources to help
Society Plant Sales
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Online Communities
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
What are other native plants for hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are well worth building a garden around, and their favorite food sources are always native plants. Read our hummingbird gardening guide for lots of tips.
Native flowers like Cardinal Flower, Coral Honeysuckle, Firebush, and Bee Balm are all worthy hummingbird-favorite companions to Hummingbird Mint.
Hummingbird Mint, Agastache, Anise Hyssop—whatever you want to call them—are fantastic additions to any sunny garden. Their long bloom time brings vibrancy and pollinators to your garden for weeks in the summer. Because they are perennials, plant them once and enjoy them for years. Don’t forget to view our Guide to Hummingbird Gardens or our Best Native Plants for Birds guide if you’re looking to make some feathered friends happy. Happy planting!
Sources
- USDA Plants Database, Giant Yellow Hyssop
- USDA Plants Database, Giant Blue Hyssop
- USDA Plants Database, Threadleaf Giant Hyssop
- Piedmont Master Gardeners, Anise Hyssop
- Xerces Society, Plants For Pollinators: Giant Hyssop
- NC State Extension, Sunset Hyssop