Both serious and amateur gardeners often consult the familiar lists of flowers that attract hummingbirds because of their nectar content. For the most part, these lists are reasonably good, but many of them completely fail to mention the genus Agastache (pronounced Ag' us STACK' kee). This is a glaring omission that we here at the Hummingbird Society are working to correct.

Many species of Agastache are native to different states within the US. You can consult the Web or your local county's cooperative extension to find out which ones do well in your climate. Beyond these native plants, however, you'll find a rich selection of cultivars in colors of pink, magenta, orange, etc.

Hummers like Agastaches for their rich nectar content. Gardeners like them because they are (1) self-deadheading, (2) require little water, (3) have long blooming time [mid-summer to fall], and (4) have great fragrance, even in winter. The whole family is unbelievably heat-resistant and prefers only a weekly watering. Some sample species that work well with hummingbirds include A. cana (Double Bubble Mint), A. rupestris, A. aurantiaca (mixed yellow/orange).

Another characteristic that makes me personally love this genus is that they are mints—brush against the leaves and you'll get a sensory delight!

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Mary Dufrain said:

	... Sounds awesome. I have a lot of luck with mints and hummingbirds. Where can I find these plants? I'll start looking for something that will fit this mountain enviroment. Thank you for the information.
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Aug 3, 2009
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Mary Dufrain said:

Found them.. I was so impressed with the description of this plant, that I started looking for this gem of on the internet. It didn't take me long, I found all different colors and scents. I decided to order...but the other day I was at Mountain Gardens here in town. I was waiting for Mark to finish buying our trees, when I noticed a hummingbird. He flew into the nursery and I thought what a lucky little fellow....look at all the beautiful flowers, shrubs and blossoming trees he has to choose from. He flew right to me and I couldn't wait to see what would entice him. Can you believe it, he chose an agastache? I was stunned, here is the plant I've been searching for and I wouldn't have found it without the help of a hungry hummingbird. It truly is a beautiful plant but what really sold me was the smell. I bought one that smells like lemon. Very fresh and minty. So if your in the market for such a beauty, Mountain Gardens, $9.99, there's an assortment of colors and scents.

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Aug 12, 2009
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