It may be called Poquito, which means a little, but I promise you in the case of Poquito Butter Yellow agastache it delivers color to the garden like a champion. In September, this new hummingbird mint won the prestigious Classic City Award in University of Georgia Trials.
The Garden Guy has been an agastache lover for well over 20 years and is quick to challenge growers and garden centers that fail to have them in production or for retail sale to the gardening public. Agastaches typically prove to be among the top five plants attracting bees, hummingbirds and butterflies all the while blooming all summer.
I've longed for the yellow and orange selections to perform in the hot humid South, and Poquito Butter Yellow fulfills that dream. In Penn State Trials it averaged 4.72 on a scale of 5. So, this hummingbird mint with DNA-leaning Western United States, has knocked it out of the park in the East.
Now, you may be wondering how poquito is this hybrid agastache. Terra Nova Nurseries, the company of origin, suggests 10 inches in height, 15 inches in width and flower spikes at 13 inches. So it is compact and bushy, making it an incredible border plant with the taller blue selections such as Blue Boa or Violet Vision. It obviously makes a dreamy combination with your favorite blue salvias -- mine being Rockin Blue Suede Shoes.
Son James is using them in large mixed containers with Supertunia Vista Fuchsia petunia and Luscious Royale Cosmo lantana, creating a look that is riveting to say the least. The Garden Guy is using them in proximity to Vermillionaire cuphea and Blue Boa Agastache.
With a garden full of salvias, pentas and agastaches, it took the hummers a little while to catch on to this new yellow version of the hummingbird mint. I am thrilled to say that the Poquito Butter Yellow has now reached the status of entree on the main hummingbird menu.
Much of the South is overrun by marauding deer laying waste to almost any flower in their path. You will be happy to know that all agastaches or hummingbird mints like Poquito Butter Yellow are not on their menu. To grow yours select a site in full sun for best blooming and to keep the plants better branched.
Poquito Butter Yellow is cold hardy from zones 5-10, meaning a huge region can enjoy the fragrant foliage and blooms. The next item may be most critical in your happiness. The soil should be fertile and well-drained. Wet feet will spell doom for the hummingbird mints during the winter, so incorporate organic matter to loosen the soil or plant in raised beds. You will want to space plants around 15 inches apart.
Though the plant is drought tolerant, watering during prolonged dry periods does pay dividends with added flower production. If you have an established clump, feed with spring growth using a light application of a slow-release fertilizer. Another application in midsummer will keep the plants at peak for the fall.
In the series there are also a Poquito Orange, Poquito Dark Blue and Poquito Lavender. Here's hoping they are champs in University Trials, too.
Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker, is the author of Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South and Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.
HomeStyle on 06/06/2020