Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Other common names
Mountain giant hyssop
horse-mint
yellow mint
New Mexico giant hyssop
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Agastache breviflora
Height
1 to 3-1/2 feet
Riparian
Yes
Herbaceous perennial with a woody base; grows in clumps through underground stems (rhizomes); can get bushy in favorable conditions. Produces 1 to several square stems which branch above the base. Leaves fragrant.
Showier than A. breviflora, with wider variety of colors; larger, more prominent flowers and protruding stamens. Tube formed by sepals, up to 1/3 inch, corolla tube 1/3 to 1/2 inch long. Flowers white to purple, tubular with a small lip and hood.
Habitat
Moist soil in coniferous forests, along mountain streams, woodlands, moist meadows and canyons.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5500
High elevation
10000
Flower Characteristics
Stemless, tubular flowers grow on an elongated cluster (spike) that is denser at the top, 1-1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch thick. Single flowers are about 1/2 inch long and 2-lipped with a spreading, cupped upper lip and a lower lip that bends backwards.
Flower color
White to purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are rounded at the tip and almost flat at the base, to 1-1/2 inches long, deeply veined and lighter green on the underside, may be smooth or have short, soft hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Hard, egg-shaped fruit is 1/16 inch long with hairs at the top.
Fruit type
Nutlet
Each flower produces 4 nutlets containing tiny dark-colored seeds.