Description | Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariaefolia) is a tall native plant held erect by sturdy purple-tinged square stems. Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. The birds eat the seeds. Flowers are white to pale purple and borne on a raceme. |
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Pronunciation | (ah-gas-TAH-kee)(skrof-yew-lar-ee-ih-FOE-lee-ah) |
Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Wild Flowers |
Hardiness Zone | 5 |
Sunlight | full, mostly sunny, part sun |
Moisture | moist, average |
Soil & Site | average to moist, mesic to dry conditions disturbed open areas and meadows, banks of streams, and rivers (riparian) |
Flowers | pale purple to white, borne on a raceme in tight whorls, late-blooming pollinator, high nectar content |
Fruit | slightly hairy nutlet |
Leaves | simple, egg-shaped, opposite, serrate to crenate |
Stems | square, diamond-shaped in cross-section, purple to brown tinged, sturdy, scattered short hairs |
Dimensions | 3-6 by 2-4 feet (HS) |
Maintenance | eliminate competition from other plants |
Propagation | seeds, cuttings |
Native Site | North America |
Misc Facts | Agastache is two Greek root words, ‘agan’ and ‘stachys,’ which means many ears of grain. Referring to the many flower spikes while in bloom. Species name: Scrophulariifolia translates to “figwort leaf.” Folia is a Latin root word meaning “leaf.” The leaf shape is like the Figworts. |
Notes & Reference | #153-Illinois Wild Flower (www.illinoiswildflowers.info), #191-Minnesota Wild Flowers (www.minnesotawildflowers.info), #193-Manual of Vascular Plants of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (Gleason and Cronquist) |