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Agastache in clay soil: anyone with long-term success?

Posted by jenn 9/19 (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 19, 11 at 15:13

If I had lean fast-draining soil I would plant every Agastache on the planet. Alas, we have rich clay. I have grown 'Blue Fortune' with success (it re-seeds everywhere).

I'm wondering if anyone has grown A. cana and A. rupestris varieties in clay soil with any success for more than a few years. Here in southern California, most of our rain is in winter and our perennials live over (and continue blooming) during the winter months. I'm interested in long-term success, not just one or two seasons.

I've read about planting on a mound, adding gravel to the soil, not cutting back too soon. What about pots? Could I create the sandy/gravelly/lean conditions in a large pot with any long-term success?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Agastache in clay soil: anyone with long-term success?

Agastache will do fine in pots.

I've grown various types in 12 inch pots on my deck. I just use regular potting soil.


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RE: Agastache in clay soil: anyone with long-term success?

  • Posted by jenn 9/19 (My Page) on
    Thu, Apr 21, 11 at 17:01

Thank you.

Where do you live? How long is your growing season? Here, many perennials will grow into monsters that are 3-4 times the size of the same plant in a shorter growing season. Keeping them going year after year in 12" pots may be a challenge, but I'm willing to experiment with one or two and see how they do, but in larger pots.


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RE: Agastache in clay soil: anyone with long-term success?

I'm in zone 6, have clay soil and love agastaches. I grow Honey Bee Blue and they have come back every year and reseed gently in my garden. I do love the Western Agastaches though, which are more difficult to keep here. Last year I grew two new hybrids from High Country. I was SO hoping they would come back this year. I had two, 'Ava' and 'Orange Flare'. No sign of Orange Flare, but I have a nice cluster of leaves where the 'Ava' was growing. Very happy about that! We had about 5 feet of snow covering that bed just about the entire winter, no exaggeration. I thought that was terrible conditions for the Agastaches. I did prepare the planting hole of both plants according to directions given by High Country, which I believe included adding gravel and sand to the planting hole. I'm going to try more this year.


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