How to grow hummingbird mint in pots – expert advice for a fuss-free patio plant that bees, birds and butterflies adore

I have grown hummingbird mint, or Agastache spp., in many gardens where I have worked. In Tuscany, we grew these perennials in a scattering of large terracotta pots alongside other fragrant herbs. The smell, I recall, was quite something.

While it is a plant that prefers to be grown in borders where its roots can spread and roam, I have seen it grow just fine in pots, throwing up spires of colorful blooms and releasing that unusual, almost aniseed scent whenever brushed.

So, if you want to grow some colorful flowers that will prove irresistible to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, learning how to grow hummingbird mint in pots is time well spent. Here’s everything I know after years of growing it.

How to grow hummingbird mint in pots

Learning how to grow hummingbird mint in pots is pretty straightforward, and so long as they enjoy plenty of sunshine and have a drink of water every few days, these perennials should do just fine with relatively little effort.

Here are my tips to guarantee long-lasting blooms that return year after year.

Growing hummingbird mint in pots

When learning how to grow hummingbird mint in pots, the key is simple: drainage. Agastache spp. loathe soggy roots.

It is good to remember that these plants are drought-tolerant flowering perennials, and in their native environments, can grow in rocky or free-draining soil, so you want to avoid waterlogged pots at all costs. To note, this does not mean that you do not have to water, but that the water should be free to drain away, and not sit.

So, be sure to fill a medium to large terracotta pot (12 to 16 inches across) with a gritty soil mix, combining a couple of handfuls of sand or grit to improve drainage.

Try these rustic pots, available from Amazon, which would work well when planted with hummingbird mint.

In terms of placement, remember that these are sunseeking plants. Most species are hardy down to zone 4, but will be all the happier if they are placed in a sunny spot.

This is non-negotiable if you are in a northern region (like zone 5), but in warmer areas, you can get away with some shade, too. However, in darker corner, flower numbers might be reduced.

Live 'Blue Fortune' hummingbird mint plants can be ordered from Greenwood Nurseries via Amazon.

Caring for hummingbird mint in pots

In pots, hummingbird mint needs regular deep watering. As mentioned above, these are drought-tolerant plants, but a good soaking every other day during summer will help them to thrive.

You want to stick to a regular schedule to avoid pots drying out, which can stress your plants, but touching the soil and feeling down to one or two inches will indicate how damp or dry the pot is.

In addition, feeding isn’t really necessary, especially if the container potting mix is fresh, but a fortnightly tomato feed (try this organic tomato feed by Espoma, available at Walmart) will keep container plants in fine flowering form.

Finally, don’t forget about deadheading during summer. Always use clean and sharp pruners, like these Felco F2 pruners from Amazon, to cut away spent blooms, although you can stop doing this from September. At this stage in the growing season, I would leave faded flowers in place for the fall months.

FAQs

How often should I repot hummingbird mint?

I would suggest repotting this perennial every two years or so. Using a spade or Hori Hori knife, gently work around the edge of the pot to loosen your plant. Then, lift the plant, shake off tired soil, and refresh the pot with fresh compost and grit. If the plant looks congested, you can learn how to divide hummingbird mint, reducing the size of your clump.

While you shouldn't need to winterize your pot, you can group containers together near the house for the darker and colder months of the year. This will create a mini-microclimate, and pots will benefit from the heat loss from homes.

For more information, see our guide on how to grow hummingbird mint from seed, and discover how to propagate more perennials for a fraction of the cost of a live plant.

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