Agastache cana

Agastache cana, also known as silver agastache, is a North American botanical species appreciated for its long flowering period, aromatic vegetation, and its drought resistance. It is a pollinator-friendly plant that brings colour and life to borders, rock gardens, and containers. In theory, it is a perennial plant that quickly forms a beautiful flowering clump. It requires no watering in summer, but does not survive well in humid winters. This agastache can self-seed.

Agastache cana belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like mints, lavenders, and numerous aromatic plants. This species is found from the southern United States (Texas) to New Mexico. In the wild, it is found on slopes of arid mountains, between 1200 and 2000m (3937 and 6562ft) in altitude, in regions where summer and winter are dry. It is a woody-based perennial plant with trailing roots. It grows rapidly, developing into a well-branched clump that is almost as tall as it is wide. When in bloom, it measures approximately 70cm (28in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. Its quadrangular stems bear small, lanceolate, hairy, coarsely toothed leaves, 0.8 to 1.2cm (1in) long, with a slightly greyish-green colour. When crushed, they release a slightly aniseed and minty fragrance. Flowering occurs from June to September. Short floral spikes form at the tip of the stems, measuring 4 to 6cm (2in). They are composed of numerous bilabiate tubular flowers, measuring 1.2 to 2.5cm (1in) in length, with a deep raspberry-pink colour. This flowering is nectar-rich and pollinator-friendly. The honey produced by bees after foraging on these flowers has a subtle aniseed scent. 

Agastache cana thrives in full sun and porous soils that do not retain water. According to most sources, its resistance to dry cold is estimated to be at least -15°C (5°F). This lovely plant will be ideal in natural or country-style flower beds, in a dry garden, in a rock garden, or in a vegetable garden where it can accompany thyme, savory, chervil, or basil. In a rock garden, for example, you can plant it with catmints, lavenders, cotton lavenders, rosemary, and shrub salvias. Wait until spring to plant it in humid regions. Dried flowers can be stored for a long time in bouquets. The leaves can be used in cooking as a substitute for aniseed, or in herbal teas after drying.  Rubbing the foliage on the skin is said to repel mosquitoes.