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Agastache wrightii - Sonoran giant hyssop

Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Agastache micrantha
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
No
A decidious, aromatic, clumping perennial with square stems. The leaves are triangular and serrated (teeth that point forward). Flowers are bluish purple to pale blue (violet) and 2 lipped.
Distinguished from most others by its small flowers. The corolla tube is 2 - 5 mm and the calyx tube is less than 3 mm. It has thicker leaves than A. micrantha. The leaves are mostly 1.5-2.0 (rather than 2.5-3.0) times longer than wide.

Habitat

Canyons, hills and montane slopes.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
3600
High elevation
6600

Flower Characteristics

Flowers are in interrupted spikes at the ends of the stems.
Flower color
Bluish purple to pale blue
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Grayish-green square stems that are erect to sprawling. Leaves are bright green above and grayish below, up to about 2 inches long by 1 inch wide. The basal leaves form a rosette.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Bright green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf attachment
Opposite
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

To 1 mm long by .5 mm wide, oblong with hairs on apical end.
Fruit type
Nutlet
Fruit color
Light brown