Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Blue Bayou Hummingbird Mint: Indigo Spikes After the Lavender
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Blue Bayou hummingbird mint is a compact agastache with deep indigo blue flower spikes, a color that is still uncommon in this group. It blooms from early July into early fall, giving hummingbirds, butterflies and bees a steady source of nectar late in the season. Brush the leaves and you get a pleasant minty-licorice scent.
It is shorter and more densely branched than many hummingbird mints, which makes it easy to tuck into a lavender bed.
Blue Bayou at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Agastache 'Blue Bayou' |
| Flowers | Deep indigo blue spikes, 3 to 5 inches long |
| Foliage | Medium green, toothed; licorice scent when brushed |
| Size | 16 to 18 inches tall, 14 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks early August, into early fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees; deer resistant |
Picking up where lavender leaves off
English lavender peaks in late June and July. Blue Bayou starts in early July, peaks in early August and keeps going into early fall. Plant the two together and the bed shifts from purple to indigo without a gap. Its upright spikes echo lavender's form, so the hand-off looks seamless rather than like a new plant taking over.
Both want hot sun, lean soil and sharp drainage, and both dislike wet winters. At 16 to 18 inches, Blue Bayou fits in the front or middle of a lavender border, in rock gardens and in dry-soil containers.
Winter survival tips
Drainage decides whether hummingbird mints come back in Michigan. Plant Blue Bayou in lean, gritty or sandy soil, the same kind you would choose for lavender. Avoid heavy mulch over the crown. Leave the stems standing through winter and cut them back only once new growth starts in spring; the old stems help the crown handle cold, wet weather. Late-fall planting and wet clay are the most common causes of winter loss, so plant in spring or early summer if you can.
Care through the season
- Water: regularly until established, then sparingly. It has excellent heat and drought tolerance.
- Feeding: skip it. Rich soil makes soft growth.
- Deadheading: remove faded spikes to keep it flowering.
- Cutting: the spikes are good in bouquets with lavender.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat hummingbird mint leaves?
The foliage is aromatic, but this hybrid is grown for its flowers, not for eating.
Why did my agastache not come back?
Usually wet winter soil. Sharp drainage and leaving stems up until spring make a big difference.
Do deer bother it?
Deer tend to leave it alone, which makes it a reliable partner for lavender in open, rural gardens.
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