When our friend Gert Fortgens, of Arboretum Trompenburg in Holland, told me about his cross of the North American native Agastache foeniculum with the Korean Agastache rugosa, the offspring sounded too good to be true. After trialing Agastache 'Blue Fortune' in our dry garden in the late '90s, we considered it one of the finest new perennials in years! In spring, the strong new stalks of Agastache 'Blue Fortune' shoot upward to 3' tall, clothed with fuzzy, licorice-scented leaves that are rich in polyphenol antioxidants. From early spring through summer and into fall, the stems are topped with hundreds of large bottlebrush-like spikes of blue-lavender flowers that attract a stunning array of pollinators, including hummingbirds! 'Blue Fortune' needs an open, well-drained site for best performance. Maintenance Info: 'Blue Fortune' hyssop is deciduous, meaning it dies back completely to the ground in winter. Once this happens, the old stalk can be cut to the ground. As long as it's still structural, we prefer to leave the stalks for winter interest, but that's purely a personal preference. Growing Conditions: Well drained soil, and a soil that doesn't hold lots of moisture is ideal. Full sun, and good air movement also give the best results. Garden Value: In the garden, it creates a narrow, visually upright form. The blue-lavender flower spikes really show up when planted in front of something with brighter foliage. Natural Impacts: A variety of bumblebees are the main pollinators for Blue Fortune anise hyssop. Since it flowers non-stop through the summer and into fall, it will be a constant source of nectar.
