General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 6b -20.6 °C (-5 °F) to -17.8 °C (0 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 36 - 48 inches
Plant Spread: 18 - 36 inches
Leaves: Fragrant
Other: Gray-green
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Pink
Other: Raspberry red, Bright lavender pink, Raspberry, Rose-lilac, Raspberry-purple, Deep pink, Reddish-purple
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Deadhead faded flower stems to ensure more flowering throughout the season
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Cut Flower
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Will not come true from seed
Other info: It can set seed, but it is an interspecific hybrid so seedlings won't be true. It is not a prolific reseeder like A. foeniculum.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Tip
Division
Other: Root semi-ripe cuttings in late summer
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: Other: 2004 Georgia Gold Medal Winner
Parentage: Agastache pallida var. pallida X Toronjil Morado

Image
Common names
  • Giant Hyssop
  • Anise Hyssop
  • Hybrid Hyssop
  • Hummingbird Mint
Also sold as:
  • Tutti-Frutti

'Tutti Frutti' was a featured
Plant of the Day for April 26, 2019.
Photo Gallery

Date: 2011-10-01
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Maryland
Location: AZ
Date: 2016-06-08
This plant is over 6' high and this is only the second year from
Location: my garden zone 7b NC
Date: 2012-06-04
Location: AZ
Date: Spring
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: Sep 25, 2006 4:44 PM
Location: In my garden
Date: 2015-08-08

Date: Sep 1, 2011 2:00 PM
Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2013-07-02
Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2013-07-02
Location: South Carolina 
Date: September
Location: Sun Garden Pittsford NY
Date: 2011-08-07
In great light with JM in background
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2011-12-29
Location: In my garden
Date: 2015-08-08
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-03-27
Planted last year.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: Jul 7, 2005 6:17 PM
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2014

photo credit: PlantExpert

Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.

Date: 2016-08-24
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Danita (GA - Zone 7b) on Apr 25, 2019 7:19 PM concerning plant:
    'Tutti Frutti' is an interspecific hybrid created by Rich Dufresne. It was released around 1987.

    Here are some quotes from the breeder, Rich Dufresne, regarding this cultivar:

    "`Tutti Frutti' Mexican Anise Hyssop is Agastache barberi x mexicana `Toronjil Morado'. A. barberi is an old name for Agastache pallida var. pallida. I created this and the reverse cross, Pink Lemonade, quite a long time ago, in the late 80s. I was happy to have A. mexicana Toronjil Morado, because it is the most subtropical form of the genus and is best adapted to the southeastern US. A. barberi is from the mountains of Arizona and Sonora, and a similarly showy plant."

    "This is my description in my placard book, circa 1997:

    `Tutti Frutti' Mexican Anise Hyssop
    Agastache barberi x mexicana `Toronjil Morado' (Lamiaceae)
    Height: To 5' in full sun; to 6' in half sun.
    Width: To 3' in sun; this plant may need staking.
    Flower Color/Bloom Period: Many 18" spikes of dense, compact cymes bearing 1½" pink tubular flowers starting in mid summer and increasing to frost.
    Soil Conditions: Good garden soil or sandy loam with drainage. Favors low humidity.
    Fertilization: Some lime and compost, with two applications of Osmocote.
    Exposure: Full sun is best; if grown in part shade, plant will need staking.
    Hardiness: Hardy in zone 6. More humidity resistant because of mexicana parent.
    Herbal/Medicinal Uses: This plant has a weak fruity scent with a hint of citrus. It is being used as a source of edible flowers.
    Other Uses: The plant is showy, with more bloom as the summer fades into fall. A hummingbird plant and a striking ornamental!
    Provenance: Both species are Mexican. This was a hand-crossed hybrid created by R. Dufresne.

    A. barberi is correctly referred to as A. pallida v. pallida"
  • Posted by Skiekitty (Denver Metro - Zone 5a) on Sep 21, 2014 6:01 PM concerning plant:
    This has been a good producer for me. I planted it in fall 2013, it survived my zone 5 winter, and it bloomed most of the summer 2014. I love this agastache, but I have it in a bad spot, so I never see any hummers, but it smells wonderful!
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Mar 17, 2013 2:48 AM concerning plant:
    I've planted Agastache 'Tutti Frutti' before, but sometimes it doesn't come back the following spring. I always try to make sure the soil has excellent drainage, but it could be that we get too cold for it in the winters. I'm not sure if it's hardy to zone 6a, 6b, or 7a. I've gone through a lot of websites where I've seen it listed as one of the three.

    It could very well be that it's hardy to 6b, but it any case, it deserves to be grown in the garden for beauty, scent, long blooming, low maintenance, and especially for hummers, butterflies and bees!

    One of my favorites!
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 29, 2011 4:06 PM concerning plant:
    I tried Tutt-Frutti multiple times, but it would never overwinter in my garden. Lovely plant.

    Located on the north shore of Nassau County Long Island, NY zone 6/7, where it is humid in the summer.
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 22, 2014 12:59 PM concerning plant:
    Agastache 'Tutti Frutti' is a pollinator magnet and valuable source of nectar. It is visited by Skippers, Fritillaries, and other butterflies.

    It has special value to native, bumble, and honey bees, especially longhorned, bumble, small resin, and leafcutter bees. It also attracts beneficial insects such as bee flies and soldier beetles.

    It is visited occasionally by hummingbirds.
Plant Events from our members
iheartmrf On August 9, 2018 Transplanted
Transplanted them after they grew into gigantic wild hot messes. The boys basketballs keep breaking off the stems. I moved them over to the south east corner of the house near the hose faucet.
iheartmrf On May 10, 2018 Transplanted
Planted three plants in main front flowerbed right in front of Paula Fay Peonies. Very small (4-6 inches) but will grow. No flowers yet.
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