GOLDEN JUBILEE AGASTACHE

Agastache rugosa aurea

An incredibly beautiful selection. Bright glowing uniformly chartreuse leaves are low and spreading, and make a stunning foil for typical herb garden occupants. Powerful fragrance and very sweet flavor. Useful for salads, summer rolls, teas, and cocktails. Fresh leaves are an interesting alternative to Thai basil in soups and curries. Flowers are tiny but filled with sweet nectar and can be used to great effect as botanical sprinkles on cakes and confections.

Like all Agastache, this species is attractive to bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. In our garden it is miraculously deerproof and drought-tolerant. Unlike A. foeniculum, this species is native to Asia, where it is common to TCM as well as Korean cuisine. Flavor is difficult to describe, having notes in common with mint, tarragon, and basil, while also being altogether different. Becoming much more popular in the landscape, but still undervalued as a culinary herb.

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Press seeds into moist soil and dust with additional soil or fine vermiculite. Mist generously with warm water and cover with plastic. Kept warm in bright light, seeds will germinate in a week or two. Uncover promptly to grow on in bright light at room temperature with good air circulation. Seedlings are susceptible to damping off if crowded in stagnant air. Prick out once they have true leaves to grow on in individual 3" pots in bright light at warm room temperature. Harden off thoroughly before transplanting outdoors into warm soil in full sun after the last spring frost. Water frequently until established. Blooms in the first year.

Golden Jubilee is slightly less vigorous than the species, but will still be big and lush with lots of flowers late in the first year. Tough and fairly hardy once established. Often listed as zone 6, but overwinters for us in zone 5. Requires full sun and well-drained soil to thrive.

Occasionally these seeds will produce the odd green-leaved seedling. Cull these in favor of the golden-leaved seedlings.

Packet contains at least 50 seeds.