Agastache aurantiaca ‘Apricot Sprite’

It is only within the past decade that a number of new noteworthy members of the genus Agastache have emerged from botanical obscurity and entered the gardening spotlight. There are a number of standouts that will dazzle gardeners with their copious flowers, statuesque growth habits, and amazingly long seasons of bloom.
Many of the newer selections are from the south-western United States and from Mexico. While the small-flowered species and hybrids, such as anise hyssop, attract butterflies and bees, the large-flowered varieties have co-evolved with hummingbirds as their primary pollinators and have long flowers in shades of orange, pink, lavender-pink, and rose-pink.
Each one has a scent all its own, and the aromatic foliage and flowers are appealing to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and gardeners alike. Best of all, they offer colour to the garden in late summer and early autumn, when many gardens are winding down and getting just a little bit dull.
The only problem with Agastache is that if you are inclined to collect plants, they’re very seductive. You start with one, and the next thing you know, you’ve got ten different Agastache in the flowerbed and are wondering where you can find space to sneak another one in.

Agastache aurantiaca ‘Apricot Sprite’ is an outstanding perennial that provides a sizzling blast of tubular, peachy-apricot flowers during mid to late summer and flower continuously until frost. The bushy, 45 to 60cm (18 to 24in) tall plants have fragrant, lacy-green leaves.
Introduced by Thompson & Morgan, a hybrid of Agastache coccinea x Agastache aurantiaca is also marketed as 'Navajo Sunset', this free flowering perennial has been awarded the Fleuroselect Quality Mark. Suitable for the border or grown in containers, the foliage is both beautiful and functional, the anise scented leaves can be used to make tea.

Agastache aurantiaca tolerate more summer water than other species. They prefer a sunny situation with moderately moist, fertile soil. They are winter hardy to temperatures down to minus 18°C (0°F) and the large quantities of essential oils in the leaves make the plants highly resistant to browsing animals including deer.
Compact and quick growing, if given an early sowing, Apricot Sprite will flower in the first year from seed. Plant them to add colour, texture, structure, fragrance, and late-season bloom to your garden.

Sowing: Sow February to March or April-June.
Sow early in February-March under glass to flower September-October, or sow April-June to flower June-September the following year. Seed can also be sown directly in the ground in spring.
Sow under cover; sow in warmth to germinate; prick out and harden off in late spring. Or sow direct in autumn when soil is warm. Protect seedlings throughout winter. Likes rich moist soil and full sun.

Sow the seeds into cells or pots containing good quality seed compost. Sow finely onto the surface and press lightly into the compost, but do not cover, as light aids germination of seeds. Place in a propagator or cover with a plastic lid and place in a warm place, ideally at 18 to 20°C (65 to 68°F).
Water from the base of the tray, keeping the compost moist but not wet at all times. Germination 14 to 28 days. Once some of the seeds have germinated air should be admitted gradually otherwise the seedlings may suffer damping off.

Transplanting:
Once the seedlings have their first pair of true leaves (they come after the seedlings first pair of leaves) and are large enough to handle, Prick out each seedling into 7.5cm (3in) pots to grow on.
Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out after all risk of frost has passed into well drained soil. Plant 30cm (12in) apart.
To prepare ordinary garden soil for planting, add 5cm (2in) of gravel and 10cm (4in) of compost. Mix in well down to 30cm (12in). Dress plants with gravel to keep water away from crown to prevent rot.

Cultivation:
Agastache prefers free-draining soil but tolerates almost any soil and will cope with dry, poor soils very well. They can be grown in full sun but will take some shade if dry. As is typical of many aromatic perennial herbs, a 'tough love' approach works best—full sun and not too much water or fertil­iser. In fact, most plants will need little, if any, supplemental irrigation. In dry climates, a deep soaking every week or two during the summer growing season is adequate.
The sturdy plants will usually not need staking, but you may need to do so if planted in rich moist soils or in exposed positions. Although agastache already boasts a very long flowering period, usually until frost, the plants will be stronger and more floriferous if you cut back flower stalks as flowers fade.

Agastache are short-lived perennials, don’t worry too much if your plant keels over after three or four years, you haven’t done anything wrong. They will self-seed where happiest, but this is usually never enough so collect the seed to ensure that you will never be without.
Remember that when different Agastache species and hybrids are planted in the same garden, they will cross-pollinate. Watch for volunteer seed­lings, and weed out individual plants that don’t demonstrate desirable habit and flower colour.
A few Agastache species are not reliably hardy, especially in wet winters, but Agastache aurantiaca is one of the hardiest of the species, to around minus 18°C (0°F). Take care when mulching hyssops, especially in wetter climates. In these areas, it is best to avoid mulching materials like composted leaves, lawn clip­­pings, and bark chips since they can encourage the growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens. Pine needles are a better choice, but a few inches of crushed-gravel mulch is ideal.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower Arranging, Containers, Borders and Beds.

Culinary Uses:
We do only just seem to be waking up to the herbal essences of Agastache. There are, however, around a dozen different species, some of which earn their place in the herb garden better than others. All have deliciously, spicily scented leaves as well as those lovely smoky blue or purple flowers.
Take one or two and chew them and you’ll freshen your breath with its clean, savory flavour.
Pick young growth and sprinkle in salads, use to decorate cakes or float in drinks. Agastache added to your Pimms lifts it to a higher sphere altogether, or make a tea, the mintier ones, like A. rugosa, often have a better flavour, the crushed leaves smell strongly of mint or aniseed and are often likened to liquorice.
You can dry the leaves for potpourri and also flavour meat, specifically pork, with a uniquely piquant tang, either aniseedy or minty depending on the species you choose.

Origin:
Agastache aurantiaca is a species found in the high mountains of Durango, Mexico.
'Apricot Sprite' was bred by Thompson & Morgan, a hybrid of Agastache coccinea x Agastache aurantiaca.

Nomenclature:
The genus name is related to the flower clusters. Agastache, from the words agan, meaning ‘very much’ (or ‘many’) and stachys, ‘an ear of corn or wheat’ referring to the shape of the flower spikes, so meaning ‘having many spikes’.
The species name aurantiaca means ‘orange, orange-yellow or orange-red' and refers to the colour of the flowers of the species.
Pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee aw-ran-ti-AYE-kuh, Agastache aurantiaca has the common names of Hyssop-Anise, Mexican Mint, Orange Hummingbird Mint and Jewel of the Sierra Madre
Syn: Cedronella aurantiaca