Grow compact agastache in a potting mix that drains, with a drain hole. A container also rescues plants from wet winter clay.
Compact series in a draining pot
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Series | Kudos, POQUITO, Little Adder | A 4-foot hybrid in a 8-inch cup |
| Mix | Container potting mix plus grit | Garden clay in a pot |
| Winter | A pot that can move or sit high and dry | A saucer of ice water at the crown |
Kudos Coral, POQUITO Orange, and Little Adder fit a patio pot. Blue Fortune wants the border. [1] A container is also how you keep a clump alive where the garden clay stays wet from December to March.
Can I grow agastache in pots?
Yes — compact series in a draining mix. A pot also beats wet winter clay in the ground.
How to plant and keep a container
- Use a pot with a drain hole. Mix in grit or perlite so water leaves. [2]
- Set the crown at the same depth as the nursery pot, not buried.
- Water to settle. Let the top of the mix dry before the next soak. [3]
- Full sun on the patio. Heat is fine; a soggy saucer is not. [4]
- In cold climates, stop fall feed, keep the mix on the dry side, and do not cut stems to the rim until spring.
How do I care for agastache in a container?
Potting mix, drain hole, sun, soak-and-dry. Compact series. Leave winter stems. Empty the saucer.
POQUITO Dark Blue and Kudos Mandarin are typical patio plants. Bolero still wants the same drain as a bed plant. Lift the pot onto feet if the patio puddles. A cachepot with no hole is only a sleeve — the inner pot must drain.
What fails in a pot
- Garden soil packed in a decorative bowl with no hole.
- A tall hybrid that tips in wind.
- Daily overhead spray that never lets the crown dry.
- A fall cut plus a wet mulch cap.
Sun and the perennial choice stay on How to Grow Agastache.
Compact series, drain hole, soak-and-dry. Leave winter stems. Tall Fortune belongs in the border.
FAQ
What size pot for Kudos agastache?
A 12-inch pot is a useful start for one compact plant. Wider is better than deeper-and-soggy.
Can I leave the pot outside all winter?
If the mix drains and the pot does not sit in a puddle. Wet clay in a ceramic bowl is still wet clay.
Should I fertilize patio agastache weekly?
No. A light feed in spring is enough. Rich, wet mix makes flop, not more spikes.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agastache/ - [2] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/anise-hyssop/ - [3] UF/IFAS Extension -
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nassauco/2017/05/29/fact-sheet-anise-hyssop/ - [4] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agastache-foeniculum/
This note is part of Agastache Guides.
More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors