I tried growing anise hyssop, Blue Fortune and several of the Acapulco series in Williston, 9a because I grew them in Ohio and loved them. The hummingbirds and bees did love them and I used the leaves and flowers in teas. However, in Williston they did well for about a month then got mildewy....the heat and humidity was hard on them. I tried them in the ground and in pots, in full sun and part shade.....nothing worked. Most are native to more deserty regions with much lower humidity.

I'd search for something from UF or Floridata to see if maybe they have some growing tips or new hybrids that will do well in Florida.

Good luck!

Rhonda

Thanks for your input. I'm surprised humidity is a factor because those hybrids are of Anise hyssop and A. rugosa (Korean) are both native to moist places. Perhaps it is the heat then.. I'll still test them out but I'll only start with one plant in that case.

As for the Southwestern ones you may wish to try Agastache aurantica cultivars they are supposed to handle more summer water and they have a good, quick germination from seed or at least mine did (I use Swallowtailseeds). I grow 'Arizona Sun' (pictured) and 'Tango' Agastache aurantica just fine in pots (over a bed so they can root into the bed). I add vermiculite to the potting mix to make it a little more neutral+well drained around the crown. I also grow some 'Arizona Sun' in-ground in a west facing bed that is very well drained + has ample root competition from old palm trees. Some look quite rough after the wet season here but none have died thus far. They do require deadhanding for tidiness as the entire branch dies back after seeding otherwise. They are short so they are good for containers. The leaves are intensely minty in a good way and I use them for teas.