Agastache 'Liquorice Blue' Seeds

Agastache rugosa 'Liquorice Blue' is a true multi-sensory treat. It produces tall, dense spikes of violet-blue flowers that look a bit like a chunky lavender, but the real magic happens when you brush past it.

The foliage releases a wonderful, refreshing scent of aniseed, liquorice, and mint. It is perfect for planting near a pathway or a seating area where you can reach out and touch the leaves to release that calming aroma on a warm summer evening.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Liquorice Blue'

If you want to save the bees, this is the single best plant you can grow. We cannot overstate how much pollinators love Agastache. It is often covered in fuzzy bumblebees from morning until dusk. It is widely considered one of the top nectar sources in the entire garden.

Beyond its wildlife value, it is a fantastic structural plant. The upright spikes add vertical interest to borders, and it has an incredibly long flowering season, often blooming from mid-summer right through to the first frosts of autumn.

Understanding the Plant: A Fast-Flowering Perennial

Agastache is technically a Hardy Perennial, but it is a "sprinter."

Unlike many perennials that make you wait a year for blooms, 'Liquorice Blue' grows very fast. If you sow it early in spring, it will flower beautifully in its very first summer, just like an annual. It will then die back in winter and return the following spring. Note: It is sometimes short-lived if your soil is very wet in winter, so give it good drainage!

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Growing Agastache is very satisfying because it germinates quickly and grows rapidly.

🌱 Germination (The Light Trick):
These seeds need light to germinate. Sow them on the surface of moist compost and press them down gently. Do not cover them with soil (or use only a very fine dusting of vermiculite). Keep them warm (around 20°C) and they should pop up within 14-21 days.

Where to Sow:
Start them indoors in trays from February to April to get flowers this year. You can pot them on into small pots once they are large enough to handle.

Care While Growing:
Plant them out after the last frost in a sunny spot. They are drought tolerant once established. To keep them looking their best, deadhead the faded flower spikes—this encourages the plant to send up fresh purple candles well into October.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features, helping you decide if this aromatic wonder is the right fit for your garden.

My Recommended Garden Companions

Agastache loves the sun and looks wonderful mixed with other prairie-style plants. Here are my top recommendations:

• 🌻 Rudbeckia (Coneflowers): The golden-yellow daisy heads of Rudbeckia create a striking contrast with the violet-blue spikes of the Agastache. They both flower late into autumn.
• 🌸 Echinacea (Purple Coneflower): The architectural shape of Echinacea cones sits beautifully alongside the fuzzy spikes of Agastache. Together, they create a pollinator paradise.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow early (Feb/Mar) for flowers in the first year.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)