Thursday, June 9, 2011

plant of the week: Agastache 'Acapulco Salmon and Pink'

I remember the first time I met Agastache 'Acapulco Salmon and Pink', it was in England and I thought darn the English always get their hands on the best plants.  I had all but forgotten about it until last year when I saw a tight 4" plant sitting at the nursery.  I decided it deserved a trial in my new garden. 

Of course it conformed nicely to my color palette of salmons, pinks, apricot and the like.  For some reason I thought "well, it's blooming now and in a while I'll be cutting it back". That was not the case.  I think I planted it in May or June and it bloomed non stop until December.  What a doer!  I cut it back, and when the plant began to replenish itself, I decided to take cuttings to have a few more in the garden.  You see it has this frothy effect that I really like and one is enough but more is more.  

One thing I would like to mention here is that the plant looks delicate, and it is in some ways but not in others.  The stems are relatively brittle, but the plant didn't mind the 113 degree record heat we had last summer.

And!  This Agastache has a lovely but strong minty lemon fragrance. What's more you don't have to crush the plant to smell it, just a small caress will do the trick.

Can't wait to see the babies catch up with papa.  But by then I will probably decide there's too much. Repeat repeat repeat!






4 comments:

  1. This is a great little plant! So pretty in the garden.

    ciao from Newport Beach

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ciao,

    Yes, what a winner. I think I'm going to have to do a follow up post too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We have this plant and I love it! How do you use the cuttings to plant more? ... I would love to do this!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I take cuttings of agastaches in winter or early spring when there are no flowers and the plant is still pretty tight. I use liquid rooting hormone but they will no doubt root without it. Lemme know how you get on!

    ReplyDelete