Agastache
Agastache: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Agastache is a genus in the mint family containing aromatic perennial plants and many garden hybrids. Most species come from North America, while others are Asian. Flower spikes and scented foliage are their main recognisable features. Names such as anise hyssop, giant hyssop and Korean mint refer to different types rather than one identical plant.The upright stems have a square cross-section, a common characteristic in this family. They bear generally toothed leaves whose width and shape vary between species. Foliage may be green, grey green or lightly bronze-tinted. Many agastaches form an upright clump, while some selections stay more compact. Differences in height and branching affect their presence in a border as much as flower colour does.Leaf scent is another important feature. It may recall anise, liquorice or mint according to the type, rather than being uniform across the genus. Agastache rugosa, for example, has strongly scented foliage and bluish…
