The bag is a great idea, maybe I should try a signal flag of some sort. I planted a 'Tutti-frutti' in the ground, so it grew nice and bushy with lots of flowers, but I've never seen a hummingbird visit it, or even look at it. Butterflies, moths, and bees like it though.

In the spring, I remember seeing posts from people who were hanging red items (ribbons, tablecloths, streamers, etc) to attract them so I figured here at migration time, I should try the same. Moreso since I am in such an oddball location but do face NE and can maybe catch some migrants coming from that direction!

I was surprised my little ones seemed to like the Agastache, considering how tiny the flowers were and how other posters have mentioned other varieties like 'Apricot Sprite' as a preferred favorite. But then they were peck peck pecking at my scarlet runner bean flowers and those aren't even tubular but are listed as a hummer favorite. They have been pecking at the morning glories now too since they are blooming prolifically and have been working the Black and Blue, although where that is located, it's hard for me to take a pic of them at it.

I read that about scarlet runner beans too late in the season to find any seed in the stores, but they're on the list for next spring. I found some leftover lima bean seed instead and thought - what the heck - I like lima beans even if the birds may not. They do like them, and peck at them all the time, and one little juvie uses the fence they're growing on as a look-out perch.

The #1 favorite flower here seems to be gladioli, in terms of the birds spending a lot of time at them and defending them fiercely. I put patches of them all over the yard and sometimes you had to duck for cover for fear of losing an eye in the aerial battles over them.

Beautiful pics Jenny! That Tutti Fruiti is on my list for next year. I was wondering what the deal was with the hanging red bag, thanks for explaining. The cardinal flower and salvias are the main attractors right now. Thanks for posting. Ruth

Hummers can prefer differen't Agastache due to regional differences. The hummers here go after Firebird, Orange Sherbert (my own hybrid), and Rupestris , then its off to the Tutti Frutti, neomexicana Lavender Haze, Purple Pygmy, Apricot Sprite, Shades of Orange, and then the last ones from just regular cana, barberi, and some purple hybrid seedling from my breeding program.

Thanks for the info AgastacheMan. I like the 'Tutti Fruiti', if anything because of the sweet wafting fragrance that it has (for my own benefit - the hummers can't really smell it as I understand)! Now to see if I can somehow overwinter it here.

Oh and Ruth - because I am on the 18th floor of a hi-rise and most of these birds have their food sources down on the ground, I figured I needed some sort of extra-bright "neon sign" up here that says

"FOOD"!

LOL That bag seemed to have done the trick! Plus it's waterproof and hasn't faded yet, so that helps.

DPallas - I bet they would probably go to any bean flower if they like the SRBs and your Limas. That's a thought! I tried some Hyacinth Bean vines, but I think they may have withered away in the trough after I planted them and we had below normal temps all of May.

Tutti Fuiti is a big draw here. Good thing, because it is the only agastache I have ever seen for sale. The best thing about this plant is that it has bloomed continuously since May. The flower stalks are big and each one produces new flowers all season. I haven't deadheaded it at all. Some of the stalks are 7' tall. It is planted in the rose bed and probably gets some of the rose fertilizers.

Yeah... I've been pretty impressed with it and I'm not really into cottage-style type plantings, although my balcony has now taken on the wild, unfettered blooming look. LOL I bought it late in the season (in July) and it was already about 3ft tall, willowly, and blooming in its gallon container. I finally planted it in a more permanent container a few weeks after I got it and was suprised that it has put up some nice blooming side shoots and has been blooming continuously since I got it. And the sweet fragrance is a bonus!

The place that I got it from also had 'Apricot Sprite' so I had to make a decision - but went with the 'Tutti Fruiti' because of the scent and eventual multicolor effect of the flowers after some age and new ones open.

DPallas - I've grown an old local pole lima for decades and while the flower aren't a hummers first choice, they do feed on them. Since I'm close to the last person on earth growing this lima, which worries me, I'd be happy to send seeds to anyone who would consider growing them. They are far and away the best lima I've ever tasted.

'Tutti Fruiti' has always been a favorite in my garden. It never winters over for me, and most garden centers either charge to much money for the plant or don't make it available until later in the season. The only center I found with early plants was Styer's, which is along Rt 1 on the way from Philly to Longwood Gardens. They have the best selection of hummer plants of any garden center I've found in the Philadelphia area.

wardw: Sure, I'd love to, and I'll either trade or reimburse your costs, which ever you prefer.

Ward - I got mine much closer (and closer for you too) - At Laurel Hill Gardens Nursery in the Chestnut Hill section of Philly. In fact, they carry quite a bit of hummer plants as I discovered, now that I know which ones the hummies like! It's a small nursery but packed to the brim with many specimen shrubs, trees, and often hard-to-find perennials.

I was able to get another Agastache early this spring. It smells just like Tutti Frutti but I think it was labeled as A. Cana Sonoran Sunset. It was in a 3inch pot and quite small when I got it but I planted it out very early in hopes that this one will make it through the winter as it is rated hardy to zone 5. I have seen my hummers using it but it is really difficult as it is in my 'southwest' bed which is also filled to the brim with 3 Black & Blues, 4 Penstemon Red Rocks, several salvia cocinneas, and all my A. Apricot sprints from last year along with coneflowers, zinnias and my Mexican Bush sage and Pineapple sage. I would love to be able to get another Firebird for next year but so far no luck in locating one locally.

Penny

I planted seeds of apricot sprite - and it has been blooming nonstop, but it is tiny - I put a few in the ground, and they did not grow - and my little plant in the pot continues to have tiny flowers - I bought the Tutti Frutti, and finally put it in the ground, and it has flourished - and sent flowering stems all over the place, and I have just let it rip - and the hummers love it - I have no expectation of it making it through the winter, but it has been the most delightful plant through the summer - I fortunately have no desire for a neat and pretty garden - because it is leaning onto all of my potted plants - and the stems are five and six feet long - I will certainly buy another next year. Or maybe it will come back! What fun.

Ellery

I have been fortunate enough to find several different agastaches and salvias on the clearance racks at various Lowe's stores this year. I have a couple of different Lowe's that I check on regularly, one near a distant doctor's office that I go to once a month. On Monday this week, I found A. tutti-fruitti, six of them at $1 each, a pot of A. acapulco gold and salvia black and blue. I came away with 14 plants for $13 and change. Some of the Lowe's won't mark things down and others mark them when they are still in great shape. It does pay to check I've learned.
spiderwoman

You're right Spiderwoman, Lowes is a good place to go for interesting plants, often at great prices. My gripe with the ones around here is they aren't stocking the hummer plants until well into summer. At the ones local to me there salvia, agastaches, and cupheas mostly didn't arrive until July or later. This shortens the growth season. My Purple Majesty are just now starting to bloom well. This is a good time to buy if you can bring plants in for the winter. Otherwise the marginally hardy ones won't have a chance to get established before winter sets in.

That is what happened with the 2 agastaches that I bought last year. They didn't get them at the local nursery until Sept. and needless to say they didn't make it over the winter. This year the one agastache I was able to find was just a small one but I bought it and planted it in May and it has rewarded me greatly. Of course it has also grown by leaps and bounds and now it along with my apricot sprite that I grew last year are competing with the salvias for space.

Penny

Now that I said all that, I'll have to admit I picked up an Agastache Black Adder this weekend. Somewhere I read that it attracted hummingbirds and from its looks it may be closely allied with the tough non hummer attracting Blue Fortune. I guess this means as a gardener I've still got that old killer instinct. I've also noted another "Fortune" for sale this fall. This time "Red Fortune". It looks like a very red Tutti Frutti and maybe just as tender. Then again it could be a product of unsafe "you know" between Tutti and Blue Fortune out in a quiet zone 6 back garden. Something for next year.

Jenny
Please Email me

Penny