Korean mint, Wrinkled great hyssop
Agastache rugosa

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant which grows to 1 m tall and spreads to 60 cm wide. The stems are erect. They are finely hairy. The leaves are gradually reduced upward. The leaf stalk is 1.5-3.5 cm long The leaf blade is heart shaped to oblong. It is 4.5-11 cm long by 3-6.5 cm wide. The spikes are compact. They are 2.5-12 cm long by 1.8-2.5 cm wide. The leaves near the flower are narrow. The flower is purple-red.

There are about 20-30 Agastache species. It is cultivated as a medicinal plant in China. It is used for an essential oil.

Where it is found

It is a temperate to subtropical plant. It grows naturally in valleys all over Japan. It does best in sunny positions in well drained soil. It is frost hardy. It can tolerate temperatures down to -5°C or -10°C. It suits plant hardiness zones 7-11. In Melbourne Botanical garden. It grows in Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Austria, Britain, China, Germany, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Manchuria, North America, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Sweden, Taiwan, Tasmania, Tibet, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves and flowers are eaten raw or cooked as a flavouring. They are used with meat. The leaves can be used for a herbal tea. The seeds are possibly edible.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flowers, leaves - tea, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They should just be covered with soil and germinate in 1-3 months at 13°C. They should be grown in the nursery for the first year. Plants can also be grown by dividing clumps and can be grown from basal cuttings. These root in 3 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Chinese giant hyssop, Huo xiang

Synonyms

Agastache formosana (Hayata) Mayata ex Makino & Nemoto; Agastache lophanthus Kuntze; Agastache rugosa f. alba Y. N. Lee; Elsholtzia monostachya H. Leveille & Vaniot; Lophanthus argyu H. Leveille; Lophanthus formosanus Hayata; Lophanthus rugosus (Fischer & C. Meyer) Kuntze; Cedronella japonica Hassk.; ?