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Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Medium Blue
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Grown for foliage Herbaceous Aromatic Velvet/Fuzzy-Textured
Other details: May be a noxious weed or invasive This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Today, July 24th, I observed this species in full bloom at one of my favorite local nurseries, i.e. Tower Perennials in Spokane WA. What attracted my attention was two-fold: 1. It was blooming now when many perennials, and esp. many mints, have finished, and 2. it was being visited by a nice little female hummingbird, leading me to suggest that it is a good hummingbird attractor. This seems like a much under-appreciated mint.
On Mar 6, 2005, northgrass from West Chazy, NY (Zone 4b) wrote:
When in bloom, this plant provides quite a spectacle with its very numerous lavender-blue blossoms which last most of the summer.
It is large, 3 feet but grows well among other plants like daylilies, oriental lilies, hostas etc. A good mixer but can be a bit rangy too..
It does spread but I do not find it invasive. It is easy to pull out where it is not wanted. I also pinch it back in June to keep it in bound. It has the added benefit to make it bushier and of staggering the blossoming time.
It does not seem to be fussy about soil or growing conditons.
It is mentioned in the description that it reseeds readily, I have not found it so, mine only spreads by its roots.
On Aug 19, 2002, wanahca from Sarasota, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:
Beautiful plant creating a sea of blue. As with all in the mint family, it spreads rapidly through a shallow root system. Keep a close eye on it because it can easily become invasive, quickly overgrowing anything in its path.
I pull out armloads of it when it begins to spread where I don't want it, and move the extras to a new location where it will settle in happily in no time.
Fuzzy, medium blue flowers cover the strong stems in bracts. Long lasting cut flower.
In Zone 5 it is a tough, hardy perennial, although its
Hardiness Zones seems to vary by text source. Although it prefers a moist soil, it is also extremely drought tolerant here, preferring full sun.
I am moving to Zone 9 in Florida and will try it out there. Some sources say it is ok to Zone 9, others say only to Zone 8. I will report back when I have given it a chance to (hopefully) adapt.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Roundup, Montana Baker City, Oregon Spokane, Washington
One vendor has this plant for sale.
