Agastache pallidiflora
(A.Heller) Rydb.
Lamiaceae
Agastache breviflora harvardii (A.Gray) Shinners
Agastache greenei (Briq.) Wooton & Standl.
Agastache neomexicana (Briq.) Standl.
Agastache pallidiflora harvardii (A.Gray) Lint & Epling
Agastache pallidiflora neomexicana (Briq.) R.W.Sanders,
Brittonastrum greenei Briq.
Brittonastrum neomexicanum Briq.
Brittonastrum pallidiflorum A.Heller
Cedronella breviflora harvardii A.Gray
Common Name: New Mexico Giant Hyssop
Plant growing in native habitat on the east side of Escudill Mountain, Apache County, Arizona
Photograph by: Patrick Alexander
General Information
Agastache pallidiflora is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a clump of upright, branched stems 60 - 100cm tall from a slowly-spreading rhizomatous rootstock.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
South-western N. America - Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northeastern Mexico.
Habitat
Rich, moist soils in coniferous forests at elevations from 2,000 - 3,000 metres.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.20 m |
| Pollinators | Bees, Butterflies |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species is only hardy in the milder regions of the temperate zone.
Prefers a warm sunny sheltered position and a well-drained soil. Succeeds in most soils.
The flowers are very attractive to bees.
Edible Uses
The following reports were for Agastache neomexicana, which is now recognized as a var of Agastache pallidiflora[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The highly aromatic young leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked dishes[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The young leaves are used to make a herbal tea[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].
Medicinal
The following reports were for Agastache neomexicana, which is now recognized as a var of Agastache pallidiflora[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The dried and pulverized root has been used as a dusting powder for sores and cankers[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The plant has been used in the treatment of fevers and bad coughs[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 13°c[
133- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rice. G. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring or early summer[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division in spring. Fairly simple, if large divisions are used it is possible to plant them straight out into their permanent positions.
Basal cuttings of young shoots in spring[
111- Title
- Popular Hardy Perennials.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sanders. T. W.
- Publisher
- Collingridge
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
]. Harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm tall and pot them up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse. They should root within 3 weeks and can be planted out in the summer or following spring.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
