Black Adder Agastache charms with long-blooming, smoky violet brushstrokes on dark buds, luring pollinators and adding spice to your garden. Born from a passionate union of Agastache rugosum and Agastache foeniculum, Black Adder Agastache rises like a fragrant exclamation point in the garden. Reaching a stately 2-3 feet, its upright, clump-forming habit exudes a sense of controlled chaos, a promise of untamed beauty soon to unfold.
Thriving in the warm embrace of Hardiness Zones 5-9, Black Adder basks in the unfiltered adoration of the sun, demanding at least six hours daily. Well-drained soils, even the sandy kind, become its loyal subjects, providing the perfect stage for its dramatic performance. And what a performance it is! From July to September, the air vibrates with the intoxicating whispers of anise and licorice, a siren song beckoning pollinators from afar. Then, from nearly black buds, unfurl smoky-lilac flowers, like artist's strokes dancing across the canvas of summer. Densely packed in verticillasters, these 6–8-inch brushstrokes form captivating spikes, a kaleidoscope of violet hues set against a backdrop of deepest indigo. But Black Adder's allure goes beyond mere beauty. Its lance-like to ovate leaves, cloaked in blue-green finery, offer a textural counterpoint to the floral fireworks. And like a maestro conducting an orchestra, Black Adder conducts the symphony of the senses, filling the air with fragrance, attracting a vibrant entourage of hummingbirds and butterflies, and painting the late-summer landscape with its intoxicating beauty.
Owning a Black Adder Agastache is like inviting a touch of the wild into your garden. It's a plant that begs to be experienced, its every inch a testament to the magic that unfolds when nature and drama collide. So, if you seek a plant that's both captivating and carefree, one that will set your garden ablaze with color and life, then look no further than Black Adder Agastache. Let it weave its intoxicating spell and watch your garden transform into a haven for the senses.