Family
Lamiaceae
Description
Purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia) is most valuable for its timing: flowering heavily in late summer, when pollinator activity remains high but many native plants have faded. It holds space lightly in a planting, self-sowing just enough to maintain its presence without becoming dominant. Its pale violet spikes attract a wide diversity of native bees and beneficial wasps, and its anise-scented foliage is largely untouched by deer. Though it can grow tall, it rarely requires staking and blends well with grasses and late-flowering composites.
Native to eastern North America, A. scrophulariifolia prefers lean, fast-drying soil in full sun. In garden settings, it benefits from occasional renewal by seed or division, as mature plants can be short-lived under high fertility.
Bloom Time
July to September
