The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

Garden Mint

The perfect garden plant is one that is easy to grow, reliable, provides color, fills in vacant spots where other plants won't grow and offers fragrance. Gardeners are always rummaging through nurseries, garden shops and catalogs for such plants. While everyone would like to have unusual specimens (in the Hamptons people pride themselves on growing exotic plants), some of the common perennials provide points of interest, great beauty and are viable showstoppers in the summer landscape. One such plant is "Agastache" or "Giant Hyssop."

Agastache is an easy perennial to grow and can be used either as a specimen or border backdrop. Unlike many of its perennial cousins, it does equally well in sun or shade. Because the plant is part of the mint family of plants that includes the true mints and lavenders, it is in high demand.

Agastache (known as Brittonastrum in the UK) is part of a group of some 30 species of aromatic plants. It has long been a favorite in English gardens. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family of plants and is one of the easiest to grow. Originally, the plant probably came from central and eastern Asia, the US and Mexico. Today, it is found worldwide and is very comfortable gracing gardens on the East End, where it has been a usual addition to summer landscapes.

As for the plant itself, its aromatic leaves, manageable size and long-blooming spires of purple, pink, orange, blue or mauve flowers make it a wonderful choice for the sunny or partly sunny border. The leaves are beautiful and may have a mint or anise scent to them. The leaves come in colors of lime green to grey or reddish brown. Interestingly, the leaves are effective as a mosquito repellant when they are crushed and rubbed on bare skin.

Agastache is a great specimen plant, a wonderful addition to the back of mixed borders and even a welcome addition to herb gardens. Because the plant can attain dimensions of up to four feet wide and tall, it needs space to grow. Herein lies one of its useful attributes - a garden filler. The aromatic quality of the leaves and flowers is attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. It is ideal when situated in a location where foraging insects and birds are not disturbed, but can be readily observed. At Rock Cottage, we have a grouping of this plant just off a windowed area and love seeing hummingbirds visit the plant.

The plant is easily propagated from seed in early spring, though this does not produce the "instant gratification" that most East End Gardeners seek. The best approach is probably to purchase stock from local nurseries. Later on, the plant can be propagated by divisions of an original plant or can be multiplied by cuttings taken in late summer.

To grow prize-winning plants, select a spot that is not too wet where the plant will receive sun and dappled shade. Agastache will tolerate both heat and drought when established, so a dry spot will also work. As with most perennials, the plant benefits from enriched, well-draining soil. Cultivate the soil to a depth of about 12 inches and enrich it with compost, dehydrated manure and peat. Situate the plant so the soil in the growing container is at ground level and back fill with the enriched soil. Water the plant well to help it establish and stay somewhat moist for the first few weeks so the roots will adequately sustain the plant.

Agastache blooms prolifically and will provide flowers from early summer through fall, especially if more than one variety is planted. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the flowering season.

Some of the favorite varieties include: Agastache aurantiaca, a three to four foot plant with deep orange flowers opening to light orange-red; Agastache cana, with light blue flowers on a three-foot plant; Agastache foeniculum, a very fragrant, anise-scented plant that produces deep blue flowers on a three-foot plant; and Agastache scrophulariifolia, a large plant of up to four- feet high with purple flowers.

While agastache is a carefree garden plant, during humid summer months and in damper locations, the plant may suffer from mildew, rust and other fungal diseases. These are typically minor concerns and can be controlled with a general-purpose fungal spray.

If you have not experienced this plant, this is a good year to try it. One season will convince you of its value!

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.

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