Actaea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’ has
glaucous blue-green leaves.
Actaea simplex, Kamchatka bug-
bane, resembles A. racemosa but is
autumn flowering and is sensitive to
early frosts. It is more tolerant of basic
soils. Actaea simplex is especially
coveted by gardeners in its many
dark-foliaged forms, which go by
names like ‘Black Negligee’, ‘Brunette’,
‘Chocoholic’, and ‘Hillside Black
Beauty’. Prune and maintain as for A.
racemosa. Actaea simplex ‘White Pearl’
(3 ft.) doesn’t require staking.
Agastache ‘Blue
Fortune’
‘Blue Fortune’ anise hyssop
lamiaceae
Tall spikes of lavender flowers;
licorice-scented foliage
2–3 ft. high; 1 1/2–2 ft. wide
Full sun–light shade
Blooms June–August
Zones 4–8
pruning ‘Blue Fortune’ anise hyssop
is a short hybrid with extra-long
lavender-blue flower spikes. Preemp-
tive pruning is not needed. If you get
the genuine article, it shouldn’t reseed.
Plants may need deadheading when
blooms begin to look tired in August,
to lighten the load and encourage
rebloom in late September. Shears
make short work of this task. Plants
may also be pinched in late May for a
bushier habit.
Wait until spring to cut back
agastaches to improve chances of
overwintering. When new buds
appear, cut old top growth down to
within 6 in. of the ground. Plants will
self-sow prolifically, so remove spent
flower spikes in early fall if reseeding
is a concern, although finches will visit
the seedheads if they’re left standing
over the winter.
other maintenance A native
Midwestern prairie plant, anise hyssop
prefers moist, well-drained soil, but can
handle drought when established. It’s
likely to lean or flop in shade. Division
is possible in spring, but because plantsself-sow so abundantly, it’s easier to
replace declining or dead plants with
volunteers. They grow quickly and
often bloom their 1st year. Unwanted
seedlings are easily pulled up.
related plantS Agastache
foeniculum ‘Golden Jubilee’ is shorter
(to 3 ft.) and has bright yellow spring
foliage that fades to yellow-green.
Seedlings come true to type.
Agastaches with pink, orange, or
yellow flowers, like cultivars ‘TuttiFrutti’ (pink) and ‘Tango’ (orange), are
usually selections or hybrids involving
Western species. With these Western
types, sharp drainage is especially
crucial to winter survival. Plants may
be short-lived even under ideal
circumstances.Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’