Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ is a favored garden plant, recognized for its vibrant blue-purple flower spikes and aromatic foliage. This perennial attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Companion planting involves strategically placing different plant species together to foster mutual benefits, such as enhancing growth, deterring pests, or creating a more visually appealing landscape. Understanding suitable companions allows gardeners to cultivate a thriving garden design.
Agastache Blue Fortune Growing Conditions
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ thrives in full sun exposure, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can tolerate some light shade, particularly in hotter climates, optimal flowering and plant health occur with ample sunshine. The plant prefers well-drained soil that is average to poor in nutrients; good drainage is particularly important to prevent root rot. It does not perform well in rich, heavy, or consistently wet soils, especially clay, which retains too much moisture.
Once established, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ exhibits considerable drought tolerance, needing only deep, infrequent watering. During its initial establishment phase, moderate watering is beneficial to encourage robust root development. This upright perennial typically reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) and spreads about 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm) wide. Its lavender-blue flower spikes bloom profusely from mid-summer through early fall, providing extended color and attracting numerous beneficial insects. The aromatic foliage contributes to its deer and rabbit resistance.
Choosing Companion Plants
Selecting appropriate companion plants for Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ involves several factors for a harmonious garden ecosystem. A primary consideration is shared growing needs, ensuring that companion plants also flourish in full sun, well-drained soil, and exhibit drought tolerance once established. This minimizes varied watering or soil amendments. Plants that prefer consistently moist or rich soil are not suitable partners.
Beyond environmental compatibility, aesthetic considerations play a significant role in creating a visually appealing garden. Choosing plants that offer contrasting flower colors, leaf textures, or plant heights can enhance the overall design. Combining the spiky, upright form of Agastache with mounding or feathery foliage plants creates dynamic visual interest. Furthermore, selecting companions that provide ecological benefits, such as attracting pollinators or deterring pests, contributes to a more resilient garden. Extending the garden’s bloom season is another criterion, ensuring continuous color and pollinator activity throughout the growing season.
Ideal Companion Plants
Numerous plants share the preference for full sun and well-drained conditions, making them suitable companions for Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’.
Echinacea, commonly known as Coneflower, is a popular choice, offering large, daisy-like blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white that contrast with Agastache’s spiky form. Both plants attract pollinators and provide a vibrant display from summer into fall.
Salvia, or garden sage, also pairs effectively with Agastache. Salvias come in various sizes and colors, often with blue or purple flowers that complement ‘Blue Fortune’ while extending the bloom period and attracting hummingbirds and bees. Lavender, another aromatic herb, offers silvery foliage and soft purple flower spikes that provide a textural and color contrast to Agastache. Its drought resistance and pollinator appeal make it an excellent partner, contributing a calming fragrance.
Sedum, or stonecrop, particularly upright varieties, adds succulent foliage and late-season blooms, creating a distinct textural element against Agastache’s airy structure. These plants are highly drought-tolerant and provide interest well into autumn. Ornamental grasses, such as Little Bluestem or Fountain Grass, contribute movement and fine texture, softening the bold forms of flowering perennials. Many ornamental grasses provide structural interest year-round, complementing the summer blooms of Agastache.
Coreopsis, with its cheerful yellow, gold, or red daisy-like flowers, blooms prolifically through much of the summer, aligning well with Agastache’s flowering season. This drought-tolerant perennial provides a bright color contrast and attracts pollinators. Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower, is another heat-tolerant option, producing bold, often bi-colored, daisy-like flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Its long bloom time ensures continuous color alongside Agastache.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a robust, heat-loving plant with airy, lavender-blue spires that offer a misty effect when planted near Agastache. Its silvery stems and long bloom period provide an excellent textural and color complement. Lastly, Yarrow (Achillea) features flat-topped flower clusters in various colors, from yellow to pink and red, and delicate, feathery foliage. Yarrow attracts beneficial insects, providing a different flower form that harmonizes with Agastache’s upright spikes.
Caring for Your Agastache Garden
Maintaining a garden featuring Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ and its drought-tolerant companions is straightforward once the plants are established. During the first growing season after planting, provide regular, moderate watering to help plants develop strong root systems. Once mature, deep, infrequent watering is sufficient, allowing the soil to dry out between applications to prevent rot, especially in clay soils.
These plants typically require minimal fertilization; over-fertilizing can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering. A light top-dressing of compost in autumn can provide sufficient nutrients. Deadheading spent Agastache flowers can encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. For winter care, leaving the stems of Agastache and many companions intact until early spring can offer additional protection to the plant crowns, then cut them back just above new growth.