I finished cutting back the old growth on the Agastaches (Hummingbird Mints) today and checking them. Some winters they do better than others, its spotty and depends on the cold and snow cover. At any rate, a fair amount of losses this year.

Starting with out in the front yard in the first terrace directly off the sidewalk. I have four Agastache clumps there interspaced with TB Iris. They all came thru the prior winter from two years ago after planting that spring but this winter two clumps are totally dead and need to be replaced. The New Mexico Hummingbird Mint is dead and so is the Acapulco Salon and Pink.

In the little planter boxes next to the front steps most are doing well. Planted last spring. Yellow colored Summer Glows are dead so need replacement.

In the backyard in the third terace of the terraces garden there is one dead Orange Flare and one dead Ava. Yet the others of both (I have them sort of lined up) are fine.

Also the Four Rosita that I put in the smallest square of tower square (one in each corner) are fine so I am glad to see that. The Columbines in Tower Square are doing great also.

So I will be ordering replacements at High Country Gardens for the Hummingbird Mints as I just love those Hummingbird Mints. Also will order my usual Indigo Spires Blue Salvia which I get each year as its only annual for us.

I do love High Country Gardens plants. But they get expensive if you have to keep rebuying them. Still, no way I am not going to have my Agastaches.

The only Agastaches I've grown are the Hummingbird Blue and the white form of it. They're not that showy, but do smell nice and draw lots of butterflies and bees, and make a nice accent among other flowers. Those tend to be quite hardy and seed themselves here and there around the garden. I've tried a couple of others from seed with no luck, but I would love to try some of those other colors, that look showier in pics I've seen, and appear to have a looser, airier bloom form.

I think out of all the Agastaches I have, i've only purchased 1.
it was actually a 3fer from BlueStone perennials. [it was purple pygym]

I find Agastaches grow so easily from seeds.

I think all of mine came back from last year. I even have Pink Pop and Tutti Fruiti which both survived our zone5 winters. Pink Pop i've had to 2 winters now... both clumps came back.
Tuitti Fruiti i have near my foundation, so it's possible it's 'pushed' a zone.

Bummer on your losses.

I have tried Tutti Fruiti afew times here. Only an annual for me, it never makes it thru the winter.

Do you save seeds from any of your plants?

And i was surprised mine came back... there is a bit of small growth - then we got cold again and i think some died... but there's still more growth.

I think I originally saw it as a zone8, so i was very surprised that it came back. Pink Pop i've seen as a zone6 ... but it's been a trouper way out in the back field with no protection.

I've tried wintersowing both of those I think, and either didn't get germination or the seedlings didn't make it- seems like I tried a couple of times with no luck. I'll be on the lookout for plants, I think the sunny front beds need them!

Terese, have you found volunteer seedlings?

I have never had an Agastache self sow for me and I have never tried to gather seeds. I just buy new plants if some of mine die.

Neal,

yanno -- now that i think about it, I only get volunteer from the hardier varieties. The Mexicana Purple I have and the Honey Bees. [i'm trying to think if i have another one.... they all look so similar - the 'bottle brush' ones. ]

My purple pygmy doesnt either... but then, for those, i do try to collect every single seed for trading. So, it's possible they would if I left a few seeds behind.

I lost my summer loves to a wet winter I think I'm glad I saved a few seeds. I was reading about them last year and they said they were a good container plant so that being the first year for them I had them in gal. pots, all four of them unless they just haven't come back yet are gonners. I had them sitting on the driveway they should have had plenty of drainage.

I have had the Blue Fortune,its a short lived plant here 2 years is the most I can get.
The Himmingbird varietys has done well here.
I have Apricot Sprite as well as Apache Sunset. True they dont have showie blooms but I like the nice cloud of grey-green leaves.

{Apricot Sprite as well as Apache Sunset} I had those too and lost those a long time ago. Apricot Sprite hung around longer than the Apache Sunset but no reseeding from either.

I had 1 reseed from Apache sunset and 1 reseed form Sprite.
I'm not sure Ap.Sprite has returned this year.

I love the Agastache called Acapulco series. They have come back for three years now. I have orange, purple and a red color. They are awesome! I rooted cuttings last year. I never cut them back until Spring. I think this helps prevent winter losses. If you want some awesome plants, try the Acapulco series.

My other favorite is Golden Jubilee. It comes back every year and attracts Goldfinches when it goes to seed.

I ordered Agastache 'Summer Glow. I enjoyed my Agastache so much last year that I decided to only order them and a few other plants this year. They bloom constantly for me until frost.

I'm so glad to find this forum. I can't wait to share my experiences and learn from all of you too. I'm hoping we can discuss cuttings and how to have more Agastache to take root.

And I will be looking forward to your updates and photos.

I agree about 'Golden Jubilee'. It's one of my favorites. A gorgeous plant indeed!

High Country Gardens has 'Acapulco' in Salmon and Pink. http://www.highcountrygardens....

Thanks! I thought High Country Gardens closed. You just made my day!

HCG is still open but mail order only is what I heard.
WOW The salmon and Pink is beautiful.I might need that one if my co-op newbies dont winter thru.
I love all ags soft cloud effect..

Me too. They are just enchanting.