Agastache x rugosa Blue Fortune

The Agastache 'Blue Fortune' is a very floriferous, melliferous, vigorous perennial plant that quickly makes a big impact in sunny beds. It is seductive with its long and abundant summer flowering, which takes the form of generous lavender-blue spikes that attract attention in the garden, amidst the constant flight of pollinating insects. In one year, it forms a beautiful bushy clump adorned with pleasantly aromatic green-grey foliage. Undemanding and perfectly hardy, it is a reliable choice!

The 'Blue Fortune' Agastache is an excellent horticultural hybrid whose ornamental qualities and performance in the garden have been awarded by the famous Royal Horticultural Society in England. It is derived, among others, from Agastache rugosa, the hardiest of the approximately 30 species that make up this genus. It is a plant from the lamiaceae family, related to salvias, catmints and thymes.

From spring and for a few months, the plant forms an upright clump with quadrangular and branched stems, reaching a height of 70-80 cm (28-32in) and a width of 60 cm, depending on the growing conditions, giving it a beautifully bushy habit. Its lifespan is relatively short, about 4 years, but it self-seeds quite easily. Its slightly sticky, triangular leaves, 8 cm (3in) long, with toothed edges, are a rather dark green-grey colour with a lighter, fuzzy underside and are found along the entire length of the flowering stems. When crushed, they release a fragrance of anise, mixed with mint and lemon. The flowering period extends from June-July to September, in the form of upright inflorescences, dense spikes measuring 8-10 cm (3-4in). Each small lavender-blue tubular flower is surrounded by darker bracts. This particularly melliferous and nectar-rich flowering attracts a large number of bees and butterflies. 

Very easy to grow, the 'Blue Fortune' Agastache thrives in sunny beds with a slightly wild appearance. In hot regions, it should never lack water during flowering. A carefree perennial, it adds height and substance to beds composed of grasses (stipas, eragrostis, pennisetums), herbaceous salvias, tall daisies, echinaceas, goldenrods, and asters. It also pairs very well with yellow or orange shrubby potentillas, for example.

The aromatic leaves of agastache are used for infusions or to prepare tea, but they are also used to garnish and flavour cooked dishes.