I have a Tango Hummingbird Mint (photo #1) (Agastache Aurantiaca-Hyb.) Common name: Anise Hyssop. I had planted it in a large planter when I purchased it. Now I want to plant it in the ground. Is now a good time or should I wait till Spring, since that is the time of the year when I received it?
Photo #2 is my Dark Dragon Rose and I did the same with it. When should I transplant it in the garden? Now or Spring?
Hello! That is a beautiful agastache you have there :)
Unfortunately, there is a decent likelihood that it will not overwinter in your zone. Agastache are very finicky when it comes to 'winter wet', which is how wet your soil remains through the plant's dormant period. For our zones, purples overwinter best, then reds/pinks, lastly, orange/peach colors. I would give it a try though. I would make sure you plant it in a soil devoid of clay or peat with plenty of sand and pea gravel. These are xeric plants, which means they can get along with very little water so the goal is to backfill with nothing that will hold water for long. These things will give you your best chance of it returning. Also, if it could be in a raised bed, that would be even better. As far as when to plant it....go for it now while there is still some time left for the roots to establish. Make sure it is watered but as soon as you get your first freeze, stop watering.
Good luck!!
Sequoia,
great information... Now I'm glad I didn't buy that hummingbird mint that I saw at Home Depot last week I didn't realize that these don't over winter in our zone well. I continue to learn so much from all the great gardeners here on Dave's Garden.
Well I hope it helps. I hate seeing all those cool varieties from Terra Nova and knowing that uninformed people will buy them and plant them thinking they are going to be reliably hardy. They may be hardy to zone 5 but I'd venture to guess that would be out west and not east of the Mississippi.
