Dwarf Hybrid Hyssop (Agastache ‘Kudos Red’- Hummingbird mint)
🌿 Plant Overview
Common Name: Dwarf Hybrid Hyssop
Botanical Name: Agastache ‘Kudos Red’
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial (often used as an annual in colder climates)
Family: Lamiaceae
Hardiness Zones: 6–10
Native Origin: Hybrid (genus native primarily to North America)
📊 Key Characteristics
Height: 9–12 inches
Spread: 18–24 inches
Bloom Time: July to September
Flower Color: Vivid red
Foliage: Fragrant, anise-scented
Growth Habit: Compact, upright, clumping
☀️ Growing Conditions
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Water Needs: Medium
Soil: Very well-drained soil (essential)
Maintenance Level: Low
Dwarf hybrid hyssop thrives in heat and sun, but requires excellent drainage—especially in colder climates. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain moisture, particularly over winter.
🌸 Garden Features
✔️ Showy, vibrant flower spikes
✔️ Excellent cut flower
✔️ Fragrant foliage (light licorice scent)
✔️ Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
✔️ Deer resistant
✔️ Long bloom season
✂️ Care & Maintenance
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering through late summer into early fall. In colder regions like Zone 6 (Midcoast Maine), plant in a protected location (such as a south-facing bed) and leave stems standing through winter for added insulation.
While technically perennial in Zones 6+, it is often treated as an annual or short-lived perennial due to winter moisture sensitivity.
🌼 Landscape Uses
Perfect for:
Sunny borders
Cottage gardens
Pollinator gardens
Containers
Walkways and patio plantings
Cutting gardens
At 19 Birch Lane, dwarf hyssop adds bold seasonal color and movement, especially when planted in clusters near gathering spaces where hummingbirds can be enjoyed up close.
🌱 Noteworthy Characteristics
Agastache hybrids are prized for their dense spikes of tubular flowers and aromatic foliage. ‘Kudos Red’ is a compact, improved variety offering brilliant red blooms, strong garden performance, and enhanced resistance to powdery mildew.
The genus name Agastache comes from Greek, meaning “many spikes,” referencing its striking flower form.
⚠️ Problems
Root/crown rot in poorly drained soils
Occasional powdery mildew, rust, or leaf spots
Best performance depends on excellent drainage
🌿 19 Birch Lane Insight
Dwarf hybrid hyssop brings a vibrant, almost electric energy to the garden in mid to late summer—right when many plantings begin to fade. It’s a plant that feels alive with motion, drawing in hummingbirds and pollinators while adding bold color to curated garden spaces.