High Country Gardens
Black Adder Agastache
Best low-maintenance perennial for gardeners wanting to attract local pollinators.
The Black Adder Agastache is a long-blooming perennial, celebrated for its abundant, fragrant periwinkle flower spikes that grace the garden from summer through fall. This cultivar is a magnet for pollinators, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Its blue-green foliage releases a pleasant anise scent when touched. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for mass plantings, perennial beds, or rock gardens, providing reliable late-season color and texture.
$15.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
29
/ 3029
#29 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-42%
Below average
Mature height
36
/ inches
Who it's for
- Gardeners living in areas with high deer or rabbit activity
- Gardeners looking to support local hummingbird and pollinator populations
- Homeowners seeking low-maintenance plants for hot, dry climates
Who should skip it
- Busy gardeners who prefer low-maintenance, non-spreading plant varieties
- Gardeners in wet climates expecting long-term perennial performance
- Gardeners working with heavy clay or poorly draining soil
Performance breakdown
Drought Tolerance
Thrives in dry conditions once established with minimal supplemental watering.
Maintenance Requirements
A low-effort perennial that demands very little from the gardener.
Pest Resistance
Reliably deters deer, keeping your garden beds intact and beautiful.
Bloom Longevity
Provides consistent, vibrant color from early summer well into autumn.
Landscape Versatility
Upright habit works perfectly for mass plantings or tight rock gardens.
Pollinator Attraction
A powerhouse for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees throughout the season.
Key Specs
Mature height
36 inches
Mature spread
24 inches
USDA Hardiness Zones
6-9
Bloom time
Summer to Fall
Foliage color
Blue-green
Sun exposure
Full Sun
Soil type
Sandy, Loamy, Well-drained
Water needs
Medium
Features
- Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
- Fragrant anise-scented foliage
- Drought tolerant and low maintenance
- Provides late-season color
- Upright growth habit
- Suitable for mass planting
- Neonicotinoid Free
- Deer resistant
What customers say
The Black Adder Agastache is celebrated for its impressive reliability and enduring quality. Gardeners consistently note its easy establishment, even in difficult conditions, making it a trustworthy plant for garden structure. Its long lasting, deep purple flowers are a significant visual appeal, offering continuous color and attracting numerous hummingbirds and beneficial insects throughout the growing season. This dependable performance solidifies its reputation as a high quality, low maintenance perennial that consistently delivers beautiful results.
Know before you buy
This plant is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. If you live in a region colder than zone 6, it may not survive the winter outdoors and is best treated as an annual or kept in a container that can be moved to a protected area.
Since the Black Adder Agastache reaches a mature spread of 24 inches, you should space them approximately 2 feet apart, measuring from the center of one plant to the center of the next, to allow for proper airflow and growth.
Yes, this cultivar is considered deer resistant. Its fragrant, anise-scented foliage is generally unappealing to deer, making it a reliable choice for gardens where wildlife browsing is a common concern.
The most critical requirement is excellent drainage. If you have heavy clay soil, amend it with organic matter or grit to improve drainage, as this plant will not tolerate 'wet feet' or standing water.
It is a low-maintenance perennial. Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant, requiring only occasional watering during extended dry spells and a simple pruning in early spring to remove old growth and encourage fresh blooms.
Yes, it is a long-blooming perennial that typically produces its periwinkle flower spikes from mid-summer through the fall, providing consistent color when many other garden plants have finished their season.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$16