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arbo_retum

Your fav. Blue Agastache?

arbo_retum
15 years ago

I grow the old regular kind, ?, the gold leaved one,and Black Adder.Of course I love the gold leaves w/ the blue flowers, but for fullness of flower heads, I do love the Black Adder. Plant Delights is touting Blue Fortune in their fall catalogue.I thought that was the name of the old standby but I must be confused. Any experiences/opinions with this one?

Thank you,

Mindy

Comments (10)

  • DYH
    15 years ago

    I have A LOT of Blue Fortune. Color-wise, it is too grey for me. Not blue enough...I've got to move it away from my Black & Blue salvia as the Blue Fortune really looks dingy beside that pretty blue.

    How blue is Black Adder? Got photos? I really want more agastache, but in a good, deep purple or lavender or real blue.

    Cameron

    {{gwi:260596}}

    Here is a link that might be useful: my gardening blog has more photos

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    15 years ago

    I've grown Honey Bee Blue and pulled it all out and still keep finding seedlings of it here and there. Reseeds abundantly to say the least. I love the 'rootbeer' fragrance of the foliage, but just can't tolerate the reseeding. I thought I could keep it if I deadheaded before it went to seed, but never remember in time. I heard 'Blue Fortune' was sterile and wouldn't reseed. I like the color and habit of 'Black Adder' better, based on photos only.

    pm2

  • laceyvail 6A, WV
    15 years ago

    I'm always baffled when I hear people describe A. 'Blue Fortune' as grey or dingy. It's a vivid lavender for me, and I love it. I have a line of 'Blue Fortune' behind a large planting of Achillea 'Fireland' mixed with a daylily in the same shades as Fireland. The 'Blue Fortune' looks fabulous behind them. I also have some in other gardens, and they too are a strong lavender. I wonder if the different claims have to do with soil or with strains of the plant.

  • spazzycat_1
    15 years ago

    I am one of those disappointed in the color of 'Blue Fortune', and I always wondered if I'd gotten hold of a seed-grown strain instead of a vegetatively propagated plant based on the rave reviews the plant gets on this forum. I also think the dingy color could just be the heat. I've noticed that those more satisfied with the plant color live in a cooler gardening zone.

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    15 years ago

    I was wondering athenainwi...are any of the blooms larger on one over the others? I am still curious if 'Blue Fortune' is the only one that does not supposedly have the reseeding issue? What is it about 'PH' that you prefer over 'BA'?

  • athenainwi
    15 years ago

    I think the blooms on PH are a little larger than the others. It's hard to describe. I'll see if I can get some pictures up later this week so you can see for yourself.

    I haven't had any reseeding, but most of my plants are only two years old.

  • zephirine_lyon
    15 years ago

    How could you just pick a favorite???? ;o)
    I grow BA and BF and love them both.
    At times, it is true that BF does look greyish when it has already a number of faded spikes, but I love its soft lavender shade just as the deeper, more purple colour of BA...
    Here they are, side by side, if you wish to compare...
    {{gwi:260597}}.{{gwi:260600}}
    {{gwi:260601}}.{{gwi:260602}}

    (I've ordered Alabaster and Ayala for next year! Just can't wait! Don't they just bloom for ages?)
    Zeph

  • athenainwi
    15 years ago

    Sorry, I've been bad about getting pictures up. Anyway, I can report that Purple Haze is still blooming. It's beautiful. Black Adder had taken a rest (part of why I couldn't get a good picture) and then started blooming again a few weeks ago. Purple Haze has longer flower stalks although the individual blooms are a bit smaller than Black Adder. Color is very similar. Purple Haze's flower area is longer and slenderer than the other agastaches which often look like brushes on the ends and Purple Haze has a better transition to the flowers.

  • DYH
    15 years ago

    I recently bought both Purple Haze and Black Adder. Right now, they look the same to me with new blooms. I guess I'll see the difference next summer.

    Where did you find the Alabaster? What color is Ayala?

    I love growing agastache since I have full sun and a large deer herd!

    Thanks,
    Cameron

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