Agastache Astello Indigo

'Astello Indigo' is a hybrid Agastache that produces beautiful deep, vivid blue flower spikes in summer above dark green, mint-scented foliage. Perfect grown in large clumps in the slightly wilder areas of the garden. Agastache enjoys full sun and cool, well-drained soil. Sow in spring for abundant, long-lasting blooms from summer to autumn.

'Astello Indigo' Agastache belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is a hybrid perennial variety that is often grown as an annual in colder climates. Agastache hybridizes and self-seeds very easily. 'Astello Indigo' grows to 60 cm high and 30 cm wide. It forms upright clumps of angular stems bearing lanceolate, pubescent dark green leaves with a lighter underside and toothed margins (8 cm long). They give off a pleasant minty aroma. From July to October, beautiful, long flower spikes appear, densely covered with small, tubular bilabiate light blue flowers held in a darker indigo calyx.

Agastache 'Astello Indigo' is a vigorous plant that is easy to grow and fairly hardy, withstanding light frosts of about -7°C. It looks wonderful in natural, informal settings and cottage gardens alongside catmint for instance. Agastache is a valuable honey plant, producing large amounts of nectar for bees and butterflies alike. In the herb or vegetable garden, it can be grown with thyme, savory, chervil or basil. The dried flowers keep very well in bunches. The dried leaves are traditionally used in herbal teas or as a mint substitute for cooking.