High Country Gardens
Agastache 'Desert Solstice'
Best low-maintenance perennial for gardeners seeking drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly color.
Agastache 'Desert Solstice', also known as Hummingbird Mint, is a captivating perennial that adds vibrant color and fragrance to any garden. Its unique flower spikes display a beautiful blend of orange and pink calyxes, creating a mauve glow, especially in the late afternoon sun. This semi-dwarf variety offers abundant blooms and a sweet, herbal aroma from its foliage. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring low maintenance and water. This plant is an excellent choice for containers or garden beds, naturally deterring deer and rabbits.
$15.29
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
864
/ 3268
#864 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-45%
Below average
Life Cycle
Perennial
/ Perennial
Who it's for
- Homeowners dealing with persistent deer and rabbit browsing
- Gardeners in arid climates seeking low-maintenance xeriscaping options
- Pollinator enthusiasts wanting to attract hummingbirds and beneficial insects
Who should skip it
- Gardeners with heavy clay or poorly draining soil
- Busy gardeners preferring low-maintenance plants that stay compact
- Cold-climate growers looking for reliable, long-term perennials
Performance breakdown
Pollinator Appeal
A magnet for hummingbirds and essential garden pollinators throughout the season.
Drought Resilience
Thrives in arid conditions with minimal supplemental water once established.
Maintenance Ease
Requires only basic spring pruning to maintain its tidy upright habit.
Pest Resistance
Naturally deters deer and rabbits, protecting your garden investment effortlessly.
Visual Impact
Unique mauve-toned spikes provide a striking glow in late afternoon light.
Versatility
Compact size makes it equally effective in containers or garden beds.
Key Specs
Life Cycle
Perennial
Water Needs
Low
Light Requirement
Full Sun
Bloom Season
Summer, Fall
Fragrance Level
Strong Fragrance
Pet Safe
No
Growth Habit
Upright
Mature Height
32-36 inches
Features
- Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
- Long bloom season from late summer to fall
- Fragrant foliage and flowers
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Low maintenance and waterwise
- Suitable for container planting
- Drought tolerant
- Upright growth habit
What customers say
Agastache 'Desert Solstice' is celebrated for its remarkable reliability, flourishing in tough, dry conditions. Gardeners consistently admire its robust performance and the vibrant, enduring blooms that offer stunning summer color. A significant appeal is its strong ability to attract hummingbirds and beneficial pollinators, making it a valuable choice for those desiring both beauty and ecological advantages. This plant reliably delivers low maintenance with high impact color, proving to be a dependable and attractive garden feature.
Know before you buy
This variety requires full sun, which means at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Providing this exposure is essential to ensure the plant maintains its upright habit and produces its signature vibrant blooms.
Yes, the aromatic foliage of Agastache is naturally unappealing to deer and rabbits. While no plant is 100% immune if local wildlife is desperate, this variety is a reliable choice for gardens prone to browsing pressure.
Absolutely. Its semi-dwarf, upright habit makes it an excellent candidate for pots. Just ensure you use a well-draining potting mix and a container with drainage holes, as this plant dislikes sitting in wet soil.
It is very low maintenance. Simply leave the stems standing through the winter to protect the crown, then prune them back in mid-spring once new growth appears. A single application of fertilizer in the fall is all that is needed to keep it healthy.
No, Agastache 'Desert Solstice' is not considered pet-safe. If you have curious cats or dogs that tend to chew on garden plants, you may want to place this in an area of the garden that is inaccessible to them.
Once established, this plant is highly drought-tolerant and prefers to be on the drier side. Water only when the soil has dried out significantly; overwatering is the most common cause of issues for this variety.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$15