Giant hyssop (Agastache 'Blue Fortune')
Agastache 'Blue Fortune' (Giant hyssop) is a low-maintenance perennial producing fragrant foliage and lavender-blue blooms from July to September.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’, commonly known as Giant hyssop, is celebrated for its extended bloom period, providing valuable late-season color when many summer perennials fade. This upright herbaceous perennial offers dense terminal spikes adorned with tiny, tube-shaped lavender-blue flowers that reliably attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies throughout the summer and into early fall. Gardeners value this hybrid for its relatively low maintenance requirements combined with its highly aromatic, anise/licorice-scented foliage.
The structure of Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ features stiff, square stems ideal for creating vertical interest in sunny borders or cottage gardens. While most garden tasks are minimal, providing excellent drainage is crucial to ensure the long-term health of this plant, especially in regions pushing its northern hardiness limits. Its robust growth and fragrant leaves make it a versatile addition, suitable for both ornamental displays and functional uses.
As a reliable hybrid, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ generally offers better winter hardiness and more showy flowers than some of its wilder relatives. Successfully integrating this Giant hyssop into your landscape guarantees weeks of colorful nectar sources while lending a soft, fragrant texture to perennial plantings.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: July to September
- Bloom Description: Lavender blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ should occur in spring after the danger of frost has passed, placing it where it can receive full sun exposure for the best flowering performance. The most critical cultural requirement for this Giant hyssop is excellent soil drainage; it thrives in average, well-drained soils, tolerating some heat and dryness once established. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain moisture, as poor drainage is the primary cause of crown or root rot, which can lead to winter failure.
Once established, watering needs are medium; water consistently during dry spells but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Fertilization is usually unnecessary if the soil is reasonably fertile. Deadheading the spent blooms periodically throughout the season is recommended, as this practice promotes the continuous production of fresh lavender-blue flower spikes, extending the bloom well into September.
For winter care, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ is typically hardy to Zone 6. If you are gardening near the Zone 5 limit, site the plants in protected locations, such as against a south-facing wall, and consider leaving the stems standing over winter to provide insulation and protection for the crown. Resist the urge to drastically cut back the entire plant in the fall.
Landscape Uses
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ is exceptionally effective as a bold, aromatic, long-blooming perennial suitable for sunny borders where its height (up to 3 feet) can anchor the middle or back of the design. Its continuous bloom period also makes it perfect for cottage gardens, offering a soft texture alongside roses or coneflowers. Due to its excellent pollinator attraction, integrating this Giant hyssop into butterfly gardens is highly recommended.
These plants are also wonderfully effective near outdoor living spaces, such as patios or along walkways, allowing gardeners and visitors to easily enjoy the pleasant minty-anise fragrance released when the foliage brushes past. Furthermore, the tall spikes of Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ make for a fantastic addition to fresh or dried arrangements, qualifying it as a good cut flower choice for summer bouquets.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Agastache, commonly called giant hyssop, is a genus containing about 30 species of upright herbaceous perennials, most of which are native to North America. Hybrid flowers typically feature dense terminal spikes of tiny 2-lipped tubular flowers which bloom mid-summer to fall atop stiff square stems clad with opposite pairs of serrate, fragrant (anise/licorice scented) gray-green to medium green leaves. ‘Blue Fortune’ specifically features tiny, tube-shaped, lavender-blue flowers attractive to butterflies, and its ovate-lanceolate leaves have a pleasant minty-anise fragrance that can flavor cold drinks.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
The most significant threat to Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ is root or crown rot, which occurs when the plant is situated in soil lacking adequate drainage. Ensuring the soil remains very well-drained is the best preventative measure against this fungal issue. While generally resistant to serious insect pressure, gardeners should remain vigilant for common fungal issues like powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spots, especially in humid conditions or settings with poor air circulation. Promptly removing any infected foliage and ensuring that stems are left standing over winter (as noted in the culture section) can help mitigate winter damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Giant hyssop suitable for?
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ is hardy across USDA Zones 5 through 9, though Zone 5 growers should provide winter protection or site the plant in a warm, protected location.
How large does Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ grow?
This variety typically reaches a height between 2 and 3 feet, with a spread of 1.5 to 2 feet, forming an attractive, upright clump.
When does Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ bloom?
This long-blooming perennial starts flowering reliably in July and continues its display of lavender-blue blossoms until September.
What sun exposure does Giant hyssop need?
For optimal performance and the most abundant lavender-blue bloom spikes, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ requires full sun exposure.
Conclusion
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ remains a staple for contemporary gardens, offering exceptional fragrance and a long season of valuable nectar for pollinators, all while demanding low maintenance. This cultivar of Giant hyssop is a high performer when provided with its essential need: sharp drainage. Before planting, confirm your soil conditions and ensure your location receives ample sunlight to best enjoy the continuous summer blooms of Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’, focus on plants that share similar needs for full sun and excellent drainage, while providing contrasting textures or bloom times. Consider using lower-growing, drought-tolerant plants around the base to fill in the space as the Giant hyssop develops. Good companions include ornamental grasses such as Nassella tenuissima (Mexican feather grass) for soft movement, or sturdy, drought-tolerant perennials like Salvia nemorosa cultivars or Achillea (Yarrow) which offer contrasting flower shapes and similar mid-to-late summer performance.
Wildlife Benefits
The genus Agastache is highly regarded for its exceptional utility in supporting beneficial insects. The dense spikes of tiny, tubular flowers on Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ are perfectly structured to provide easy access to nectar for a wide variety of pollinators. This plant is a magnet for butterflies, which are frequently sighted visiting the lavender-blue blooms throughout the summer. Furthermore, the aromatic foliage attracts smaller beneficial insects, and the high nectar content keeps hummingbirds returning throughout the warm season, making it an indispensable addition to any wildlife-friendly garden design.
