Minnesota Wildflowers


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Agastache scrophulariifolia (Purple Giant Hyssop)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Agastache
Family:Lamiaceae (Mint)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; woods
Bloom season:July - August
Plant height:3 to 6 feet
County distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: irregular tubular spike

[photo of flowers] Flower spike 1 to 6 inches long of ¼ inch long tubular flowers, each with 4 long stamens. Color ranges from lavender to pale pink and occasionally white. The lower lip of the flower tube has 3 lobes; the center one is widest. One plant usually has several spikes. Not all flowers are open at the same time.

Leaves and stem: opposite simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, with a rounded base, pointed tip and coarsely toothed edges. The leaf stem is covered in short hairs. Like all members of the Mint family, the main stem is square; it has scattered short hairs along the ridges as well.

Notes:

Purple Giant Hyssop can be distinguished from Blue Giant Hyssop (A. foeniculum) by the leaves and the cup-like whorl of sepals (calyx) holding the flower. Purple Giant Hyssop has a green calyx, Blue Giant Hyssop is blue-violet, and the underside of Blue Giant Hyssop leaves is whitish where Purple Giant Hyssop is green.

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  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
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  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken in Blaine, Anoka County and Wild River State Park, Center City, MN July-August 2007 and 2009. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Hennepin County

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Steve K
on: 2009-07-12 15:35:18

Seen blooming in Banning State Park, Pine County, July 4th 2009.

Posted by: Tom and Nan
on: 2010-07-25 09:53:29

Wild RIver SP Sept 2005

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