Virginia ecotype
- Duration: Perennial
- Habit: Upright, tall, clumping, naturalizing
- Size: 3 – 8 ft. high / 1 – 3 ft. wide
- Flowering time: July, August, September
- Bloom color: Pale yellow to greenish-yellow
- Habitat: Moist woodlands, woodland edges, stream banks, thickets, and partially shaded meadows
- Moisture: Medium to moist, well-drained
- Light: Full sun to shade; best flowering display in more sun, but needs a little extra water
- Soils: Prefers loamy or rich soils but tolerates clay and sandy textures
- Uses: Pollinator gardens, native plant meadows, woodland edges, riparian buffers, rain gardens (with good drainage), ecological restoration projects
Agastache nepetoides (Yellow giant hyssop)
Agastache nepetoides, the Yellow Giant Hyssop, is a sizeable member of the mint family native to rich woods, streambanks, and moist thickets. It thrives in dappled sunlight and moist, well-drained soils.
It is one of two Agastache native to the east coast and Virginia, the other being the Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia). Other commonly cultivated Agastaches (Anise hyssop or Hummingbird mints) are only native to central North America, Central America, or are non-native in origin.The plant is primarily recognized by long, unbranched spikes of small, pale yellow to greenish-yellow flowers. While not as showy a display as compared to other Agastache, these blooms occur in mid- to late summer and can continue into early fall, offering nectar and pollen for a long time.
Giant Yellow Hyssop is particularly attractive to native bees, butterflies, beneficial wasps, and the occasional hummingbird. Goldfinches in particular enjoy pinching out the salt-grain sized nutlet seeds. As a member of the mint family, it produces a subtle, aromatic scent when crushed.
Yellow giant hyssop will politely naturalize in suitable open habitats and can form loose colonies over time through reseeding and very short, clumping rhizomes.
Agastache nepetoides pairs well in naturalized plantings with other tall species, such as Silphiums, Mountain-mints, Tall coreopsis, woodland Helianthus, Parasol white-top, and native woodland grasses such as Bottlebrush grass, Silky wild rye, or Hairy wood chess (Bromus pubescens).