Lofant Tibetan (age 3 weeks)
So, in Latin it is called Agastache rugosa, or Wrinkled Polygonum. A plant of the Lamiaceae family, growing in the Far Eastern regions, in China. It has white flowers collected in ears, unlike other varieties of Lofant. Several years ago we brought the seeds of this plant from Altai and now growing Lofant Tibetan in our garden.
Useful properties of Tibetan Lofant
Lofant Tibetan is one of the main medicinal plants in Chinese folk medicine, has mass healing properties, and what is important, can grow in our Ural gardens. Lofant is popularly called “northern ginseng” and it fully corresponds to this. Used aboveground part adult plants. The green mass of Tibetan lofanthus is rich in vitamins, essential oils, flavonoids, has a very pleasant aroma.
Thanks to its unique composition, Lofant Tibetan, when consumed regularly, normalizes metabolism, gently stimulates a person’s own immune forces, and calms nervous system, restores sleep. It is actively used to normalize blood pressure, to treat diseases of the digestive system, kidneys and respiratory organs. External use for skin and hair diseases gives excellent results. I note that Lofant is not addictive and has no negative effects. side effects. But I think that people suffering from hay fever and other types of allergies need to be careful.
How to grow Lofant Tibetan
Video from Alexey Sedykh about how he grows Lofant Tibetan for bees:
Grow Lofant Tibetan on your summer cottage very simple. To start . I’ll say right away that other types of Lofant do not have medicinal properties, and can only be of interest as aromatic and ornamental plants.
Increases the yield of raw materials Lofanta vermicompost fertilizer
I sow Lofant Tibetan seeds in mid-March in peat tablets, 3-5 seeds per tablet. I cover the containers with tablets transparent film. After a few days, shoots appear. It is advisable to provide the seedlings with good lighting and timely watering. After the first pair of true leaves appear, it is advisable to feed the plant with a weak solution of complex fertilizers, for example Kemira or Fertik. This must be done to provide the seedlings with the necessary nutrition, because there is not enough of it in the peat tablet, but it contains a sterile environment for seed germination.
Seedlings of Lofant Tibetan at the age of 4 weeks
In mid-April, I transplant the seedlings from the tablets into 200 grams. cups with soil, after removing the shell from the tablet. The seedlings will remain in them until they are planted. permanent place. This can be done in the second half of May, when consistently warm weather sets in. I plant Lofant on beds according to the 50*50 cm pattern and water it abundantly. Sometimes Lofant seedlings stretch out at home, but this is not scary. When planting in a bed next to a bush, it is enough to stick a small peg 20-30 cm in length and carefully tie the young Lofant stems to it, providing sufficient freedom to the plant. Pretty soon the young plantings will give their first growth. The stems and leaves will become noticeably larger and will look very nettle-like. After landing in the ground further care consists of regular loosening, watering, fertilizing. If necessary, overgrown bushes can be lightly hilled.
In July, Lofant will begin to bloom, and this process will last until the end of August. It is at the end of August that the main part of Lofant can be cut off, leaving small, immature plants in the garden bed. They will be able to stay there until it snows. And you will have the opportunity to tear off fresh Lofant leaves for a cup of tea.
Collecting and drying Tibetan Lofant
Cutting the stems should be done at a height of 10-12 cm from the ground in dry, windless weather. Then I take several branches into a bundle and tie the bundles together in pairs. In the attic we strengthen the crossbar, throwing it over it, and hang the “parkas”. Below, under the lofant tufts hanging upside down, you can spread a clean film, because Ripe seeds will fall on it. They can be collected and used for sowing next year.
Despite the fact that Lofant of Tibet is perennial, the practice of its cultivation has shown that Ural frosts are destructive for the underground part of plants. Only a few specimens survive and take quite a long time to recover in the spring. While the newly planted young bushes are already growing with might and main. As a result, every year I prepare Lofant seedlings, and do not rely on last year’s plants.
How to choose a landing site?
If you are the happy owner of six acres, then there is not much to choose from, because most often there is no free land. But I think it’s possible to allocate a small bed for 10-20 lofant bushes. My friends, for example, plant a gazebo with Lofant, and this provides them with gentle and beneficial air while relaxing in the gazebo, pleasant evening tea parties, and in a composition with lower-growing bright flowers, very impressive decorative look relaxation areas in the garden.
I tried growing Lofant in different parts of my garden, in different soils and with different degrees of shading. I can say that it will grow wherever you plant Lofant seedlings. But still, the most comfortable thing for Lofant was filled with light sandy soils in a sunny part of the site. When planting in a hole, I add a little compost, ash and a pinch of complex mineral fertilizer. It must be said that Lofant grows significantly worse in the shade than in sunny or slightly shaded areas. In the shade, Lofant will of course also grow, but it will be short and may not even bloom. Under ideal conditions, by the end of August we have meter-long spreading plants, abundantly covered with leaves and inflorescences, which bumblebees and bees incredibly love. Lofant is an exceptional honey plant! Just a godsend for beekeepers. And also a godsend for those who take care of their health with the help of what nature gives us, using plants grown in their garden. You can make excellent herbal infusions and medicinal teas from garden plants in composition with Lofant of Tibet. Isn't it a miracle to grow your own medicine?
You just need to have desire, patience and hard work, and also learn how to competently prepare herbal mixtures, taking into account exactly your needs.
Lofant is often called mint for fragrant flowers and leaves, although its correct name is polygonum. But you will most likely find the seeds under the name lofant, agastache or mint.
Almost all representatives of the genus grow on the North American continent, and only one - in Asia. The name itself suggests that the plants grow well and produce many fragrant inflorescences. Latin Agastache derived from Greek words agan, meaning "many", and stachys– “spike”, i.e. multi-grid. In English-speaking countries, the plant is called Giant Hyssop for its fragrant leaves and flowers, but more often it is simply called mint.
These are herbaceous perennials with opposite serrated leaves on petioles. Vertical multi-flowered inflorescences crown the tops of straight tetrahedral stems. The calyxes of the flowers are tubular-obverse conical, deviated from the peduncle. The corolla is tubular, gradually widens, emerging from the calyx, bilabial - the upper lip is 2-lobed and straight, the lower is 3-lobed (the middle lobe is the widest and bent, the lateral lobes are straight). The flower has 4 stamens, protruding far from the flower - the upper ones are longer, sticking forward, the lower ones are straight ascending. Pistil with two stigmas. The fruit splits into 4 smooth nuts with hairs on top.
All polygonums are beautiful fragrant plants, with both leaves and flowers smelling.
Not considered very good ornamental plant, mainly its few varieties are grown in annual crop, although plants can overwinter in zone 4 and self-sow a little. The plant is melliferous and medicinal.
Polygonum, or nettle-leaved lofant (Agastache urticifolia) grows in the west North America. On the American continent it is called horsemint.
This plant is characterized by a large height (up to 1.2-1.5 m), large, up to 8 cm long and 7 cm wide, widely spaced horizontally, spear-shaped or almost triangular, jagged along the edge, fragrant leaves, similar to nettle leaves. Inflorescences are dense spikelets from white and pink to purple.
This species belongs to winter hardiness zone 7 (up to -17 degrees). But in mild winters in the middle zone it can overwinter and self-sows.
On sale you can find the varieties “White Butterfly” and “Blue Butterfly”.
Polygonum, or gray lofant (Agastache cana) grows naturally in mountainous areas in New Mexico and Texas, at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level.
Plant 45-90 cm tall. The leaves are oval, pointed, small compared to other species, up to 3.5 cm long and 1.2 cm wide, bluish. The flowers are pink to crimson, with a sweet scent that has been compared to bubblegum, calling the plant Double bubblemint. Another name is Mosquito plant. It is believed that when rubbed, the leaves release a scent that repels mosquitoes.
The “Heather Queen” variety is heat-loving, often falls out in winter, and needs shelter. It has characteristic blue foliage and pink flowers.
Fennel polygonum, or fennel plant (Agastache foeniculum)– comes from North America (northern USA, southern Canada). It has almost disappeared in nature, but is widely preserved in culture around the world. Its other name is aniseed lofant (Lophanthus anisatus), famous kitchen herb.
By external signs very similar to rugose polygonum. Stems are straight or branched, 50-150 cm tall. The leaves are quite large, up to 8-10 cm, lanceolate, with a serrated edge, and have the aroma of anise, licorice and fennel. Flowers of pink-violet shades. Inflorescences are up to 7.5-15 cm long. Flowering begins in July and lasts until autumn.
Heat-loving, grown as an annual. Propagated by seeds, less often by cuttings. Decorative and garden culture.
The State Register of Breeding Achievements has registered 7 vegetable varieties of lofanta anise, used as spicy-aromatic ones (Astrakhansky, Kuntsevsky Semko, Pamyat Kapeleva, Premier, Frant), among them 2 new ones are the varieties Dachnik and Snezhok. (See below for culinary uses.)
This species also includes the magnificent hybrid lofant “Golden Jubilee”– it is distinguished by very impressive, light green foliage and blue-lilac inflorescences. Grown from seeds, overwinters.
Multi-grassroot, or orange lofant (Agastache aurantiaca) Sunset Yellow has yellow flowers and leaves similar to those of catnip. Compact plant up to 30 cm high. Awarded the prestigious Fleuroselect medal.
There is also a variety called Apricot Sprite - with apricot-colored flowers, 20-25 cm high. The aroma is dominated by notes of mint. Winter hardiness – down to -23 o C (zone 6).
Usually grown as an annual, it blooms from mid-summer. But it overwinters under cover and can be cultivated as a perennial plant.
The last type on sale is usually called lofant barbers (Agastache barberi), but on new classification it is classified as a species pale polygonum (Agastache pallida) and is considered one of its forms. Despite this, the assumption remains that the cultivated varieties are hybrids of two species of polygonum - blood-red and mountain (Agastache coccinea x A. rupestris). The fact that they reproduce only vegetatively supports this opinion.
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It has tetrahedral stems 60-90 cm tall, characteristic of the family. The leaves are opposite, serrated along the edges, bluish-green, and smell of mint. Two-lipped flowers with a long tube are located in the axils of the upper leaves, forming a loose spike of false whorls up to 25-30 cm in height. The flowers have a sweet scent of a mixture of anise and licorice and are readily visited by bees and butterflies. Flowering lasts a long time, from July to the end of summer.
The varieties are very attractive with bluish foliage and unusual flower colors.
The most famous variety Firebird– 50-75 cm high, with salmon-orange inflorescences.
There are similar varieties with salmon pink and coral inflorescences.
In its homeland, barbera lofant is found in areas with hot summers and low humidity. The plant belongs to winter hardiness zone 6 (down to -23 o C). Therefore, in our climate zone it is often grown as an annual or container plant, although it can overwinter under cover.
Growing
Rules for growing in open ground similar to any heat-loving plants. It is necessary to choose the sunniest, warmest and most wind-protected place in the garden, preferably small slopes with a southern exposure. The sun should illuminate the multi-grid all day. At the same time, the plants are cold-resistant and can withstand light frosts.
The soil should be light and drained. On heavy clay soils, damping off of plants is inevitable. Soil acidity – from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (pH 6.1-7.8).
Watering. Polygonum is a drought-resistant plant. However, it develops best with regular but moderate watering. Excess moisture causes rot.
Care Maintenance of plants is minimal - loosening the soil, protecting from weeds. Mulching with sand or gravel is useful, which serves as additional protection against damping off. The stems are not pruned for the winter, as this will allow the plants to overwinter better. It is better to remove them in the spring.
Mountain, Mexican, and fennel polygonums can be pruned after the first flowering, then in the fall a slight repetition of flowering is possible.
Wintering. Plants require dry wintering, so they are covered in a dry way - covered with a mixture of sand and ash (a glass of ash on a bucket of sand) and covered with film, glassine or roofing felt, leaving vents.
Diseases. Polygonums are not affected by pests and almost never get sick. Only at the end of summer is it possible to appear powdery mildew. A simple Furacilin (2 tablets per 1 liter of water) will help get rid of it. You can spray frequently; the product does not harm either the plant or people.
Reproduction
Polygonums are propagated by seeds (except barbera lofanta), division and cuttings.
You can sow in May in open ground (then the plants will bloom in August) or in March for seedlings for flowering in late June-early July. Seeds are germinated at a temperature of +18...+20 o C, shoots appear within 1-2 weeks. Flowering occurs in 3-3.5 months.
You need to divide in the spring, when shoots begin to grow. Then the young plants will have time to prepare for winter. In order for them to bloom earlier, apical cuttings 10-15 cm long are taken for propagation. Rooting occurs within 3 weeks.
Usage
In the garden, the fragrant polygonum will replenish the assortment of plants in fragrant and pharmaceutical gardens, and gravel gardens. It is good to grow near windows, porches, terraces, garden benches, playgrounds and other recreational areas. This is an excellent component for container compositions. Unusual coloring flowers attracts attention when growing plants in borders. By planting it along the path, you will feel the aroma of the plant every time you touch it.
In flower beds, candles from lofanthus inflorescences provide the necessary verticality and improve the geometry of compositions.
Cut flowers will fill your home with fragrance; they are well preserved in water. In addition, they are used as dried flowers.
Like mint, it is an excellent culinary herb. The leaves, fresh and dried, are used similar to mint. The flowers are also edible, contain a lot of nectar and have a sweetish taste, are good material for floral cuisine - decorating and flavoring salads, desserts, drinks, etc. For tea, take young leaves or tips of leaves.
In its homeland, Mexican polygonum is grown on an industrial scale to obtain essential oil, culinary and medicinal use. Tea from the leaves is useful for gastrointestinal diseases, nervous and cardiovascular diseases, restores healthy sleep and works as a tranquilizer. Essential oil is an effective antifungal agent. It is used, in particular, for processing grain during storage.
Fennel polygonum is a valuable honey plant; on the American continent it is grown in fields to produce characteristic “anise” honey. It has medicinal properties– antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, fungicidal, but not used enough for medical purposes. Tea made from its leaves treats colds. In cooking, the leaves are used as a seasoning for meat and fish, jellies, compotes and baked goods.
Anise has found its use in cooking as a seasoning, thanks to its special subtle aroma. Fresh green leaves of this plant can be safely added to various salads and soups, all kinds of potato and cabbage dishes. When fresh, lofant will add an unusually refined flavor to cottage cheese, fish and sandwiches. Lofant goes perfectly with almost any meat and fish dishes - baked, stewed or fried. It will wonderfully transform the taste of any vegetable sauce. In dried form, it can be used in the same way as peppermint; it will be good for flavoring jams, desserts, puddings, teas, compotes, jelly and fruit drinks. As a spice, anise lofant is also used in canning vegetables.
Lofant seeds also have a flavor and are used as a spice. They are quite small, about 2 mm. Suitable for consumption both raw and thermally processed.
Culinary recipes:
Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.
The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. She's different strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils that are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties mint, and also tell you about the features of growing this plant in open ground.
People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring to next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.
Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.
Blueberry – a rare and promising berry crop in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins and have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and tonic properties. The berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, microelements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. Blueberries taste like a mixture of grapes and blueberries.
Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it’s hard not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners He's annoying sometimes! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.
Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs provides tasty pieces of fish pulp for a light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then sprinkled with apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.
Conifer tree or shrubs on the site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, released by plants, not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics under the canopy of flowering trees have long become an integral attribute of welcoming spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese take place under the sign of their flowering. But sakura grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an object of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century B.C. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.
Delight your family and prepare themed cottage cheese cookies in the shape of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sifting the flour, combining everything necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!
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We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
It all started quite innocently)
I wanted to sort out the bags of lofant I bought.
For convenience, I numbered them and began to study the issue.
You can see offhand that on No. 1 and No. 2 it is written that the mint is Mexican.
No. 2 and No. 5 - mixtures.
No. 4 and No. 7 - it is written that the mint is Korean.
No. 3 and No. 4 are suspiciously similar to each other.
No. 3 - some kind of mint Golden Jubilee
No. 6 - some kind of mint Burning sunset.
Let me clarify right away that I needed Lofant, who had medicinal properties(for tea), and that’s why I went online for information to find out which lofant of the ones I bought I needed.
The first source is Wikipedia.
Wikipedia offers this list of the main species of Polygonum/Agastache/Lophant.
Of this entire list, there is a link with information about only one Lofant - Polygonum rugosa. I'm following the link
and this is what it says:
Yes, that seems to be what I'm looking for. Brief summary:
Multi-column, aka Lofant, aka Agastakhe.
It is considered especially valuable medicinal variety,
Agastache rugosa/ Wrinkled polygonum / Tibetan lofant / Korean mint /
This species is considered the only medicinal type of Lofant, the rest are decorative e. There is also anise - but more on that later .
Among my seeds, only two are called “Korean mint” - No. 4 and No. 7. But No. 4 is very similar to No. 3, how can I distinguish “Korean mint” from other varieties of lofant? And what other types of lofant do I have, how can I use them? I went looking for more information...
But again, someone combined Tibetan and aniseed lofants, and claims that they have exactly the same properties:
And for the second time I come across the fact that they write that the Tibetan lofant has white flowers, and the anise one has lilac flowers....
Where is the truth???
The funny thing is that anise lofant is completely outside the classification!!!
And the Aelita company manages to sell it under the guise of Hyssop (anise)! Although these are different plants.
Anise Lofant is also called:
Anise comb, Giant hyssop, Anise hyssop, Great blue hyssop
And they are trying to “unite” it with Tibetan, and with fennel, and with nettle... In general, it’s a complete mess)So what is he?
The only source explaining where this anise hyssop came from writes this:(and even without proof!):
"You won't find this plant in wildlife. Encyclopedias and reference books do not mention it. The fact is that anise lofant was bred by breeders. This healing perennial from the Lamiaceae family is very useful and has wonderful aromatic, melliferous and medicinal properties. Aniseed lofant is a relative of lemon balm and catnip, but it has a stronger effect on viruses, microbes and fungi than they do."
But all the same, I still don’t understand what variety this anise lofant was bred from and whether it can be used in the same way as the Tibetan one.
And how to distinguish them all from each other.
And what kind of seeds do I have, after all?
It is more or less clear that No. 6 is 99% Lofant Mountain. And that’s not a fact, but let’s assume.
The questions remaining are:
1. Are lofant No. 1 and No. 2 Mexican? How to distinguish it from the rest?
2. No. 3, Golden Jubilee, is this fennel lofant or anise lofant?
Photos of my "yellow lofant"
3. And what is anise lofant anyway? What type of lofant did it come from and does Tibetan lofant have medicinal properties? How to distinguish it from the rest?
4. No. 4 and No. 7 are these really Korean mint (Tibetan lofant)?
5. What is mixture No. 5?
The answers to these questions are extremely important to me, because... I have to know EXACTLY what kind of herb I will dry and brew into tea.
Help from the audience is VERY welcome!)))
UPD 2: I also found a wonderful thing about “Golden Jubilee” (which was either fennel or aniseed, but similar to Tibetan, but definitely not))) Now it has become Mexican! (See framed pictures in the “Soil” paragraph)
UPD from March 2018:
Since many people ask about the results of the experiment, I will answer here.
I added a picture with seeds because the old one crashed. 
1. It was not possible to plant all the lofants from the list. I didn’t plant the last bunch.
2. Due to the birth of a child, the garden was almost abandoned for two seasons, so the markers with names sank into the weeds and broke, so the purity of the experiment was slightly compromised.
3. No. 1, No. 2 and Golden Jubilee have an identical anise scent. Not suitable for brewing into tea, very specific smell. The Golden Jubilee did not survive the third year. The one that I grew up with (pictured above) is exactly what it was.
4. I suspect that Korean Mint (second from the bottom) also grew on me. The smell is also anise, although the leaves are slightly different.
5. Mint dusty sunset was outwardly unlike all the others. 2 branches grew, and unfortunately did not survive the winter, so I never tried it (((
So all the commentators who wrote that almost all of these lofants are the same and identified them as “agastaje rugosa (?), aka multi-column, turned out to be right.
But I still hope to find the one that is healthy and without the anise smell.)))
Agastache (lat. Agastache), lofant or polygonum - flowering herbaceous plant family Lamiaceae. In the garden they are real stars of vertical planting, their luxurious bushes are comparable to lupins. The latter can be called watercolor, landscape plants, and the lofant brings avant-garde trends and settles in the garden on long years. It is unfairly attributed to low cold resistance. The plant is not as afraid of frost as it is of soaking the soil in combination with winter cold and needs competent preparation for this season. If you don’t want to bother with wintering, you can cultivate it as an annual plant.
What is a multi-grid? Simple or branching stems stand erect, reaching a maximum height of 1.5 m. The leaves resemble nettles in shape and arrangement, only they are tender to the touch, slightly pubescent, and exude a pleasant aroma - they are often added to salads to add piquancy. The leaves are densely arranged, creating an almost impenetrable green mass.
The inflorescences are spike-shaped, numerous, about 10 cm long, it’s not for nothing that the plant is called multi-spike. The corollas are in the form of narrow oblong tubes.
In nature, most of the species live in the temperate zone of North America; in East Asia, only rugose polygonum is found.
Polygonum flowering
How the polygonum agastache blooms. In the photo, the variety Agastache ‘Blue Boa’
Summer lofant, grown seedling method, blooms from May until frost. Perennials will have to be pruned in early autumn and covered to prepare for wintering, then the plantings will last for many years.
Colors in white, cream, purple, lilac, pink, orange shades. The aroma should be mentioned separately: it is spicy, aniseed with mint, candy and even pepper notes. Lofant is an excellent honey plant and is used in cooking as a spicy and aromatic herb.
Useful properties of lofant
The miraculous power of lofant is so famous that in most cases it is grown as medicinal herb. This is not in vain, because it is one of the 50 plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking drugs based on it normalizes metabolism, blood pressure, improves blood circulation, increases male potency, and acts as an immunomodulatory and sedative.
Lofant is propagated by seeds, and perennial bushes are also propagated vegetatively.
Growing Agastache lofanthus multigrass from seeds for seedlings at home
Agastache lofanta seeds photo
To cultivate lofant as a summer plant (to get flowering in the first season), you will need to grow seedlings.
When and how to plant agastache seeds for seedlings
- In the first ten days of April, prepare wide containers with loose nutrient substrate (ideal substrate for growing seedlings), distribute the seeds over the surface, sprinkle thin layer soil and irrigate warm water from a fine spray.
- For rapid germination, create greenhouse conditions: cover the crops tightly with glass or film, place them in a warm place under diffused lighting, ventilate daily (the cover can be removed after germination) and spray the soil as necessary.
- Pick up the grown seedlings into separate pots and grow until transplanting into open ground, which is carried out with the establishment of real warmth.
If the seedlings stretch out, increase the lighting intensity (organize additional lighting), and also add soil to the level of the leaves. This will restrain plant growth, prevent seedlings from bending, and also stimulate the growth of additional roots at the base of the stem.
How to sow Agastache lofanthus multigrass with seeds in open ground
Agastache seeds are sown in open ground in the spring in the first ten days of May. Make furrows about 2 cm deep, spill with warm water, sow the seeds and cover with soil. Thin out dense shoots with care so as not to harm the rest of the plants. They will develop fairly quickly, but may not bloom the first year or may produce only a few flowers by late summer.
Vegetative propagation of polygonum
Dividing the bush
Mature, overgrown bushes can be propagated by division. This can be done both in spring and autumn. Dig up the bush, divide it into several parts, each of which should contain a powerful part of the rhizome and at least 5 growing points. Dig holes of the appropriate size, plant the cuttings, and systematically water for rooting.
Rooting stem cuttings
Cut in spring stem cuttings and root under a glass jar under diffused lighting. Do not forget to raise the shelter for ventilation, water as needed. An established cutting will have growth buds and new shoots.
Place for a lofant in the garden
For the lofant to fully reveal its beauty, choose a place for it in the open sunny area. In the shade, it develops slowly, blooms sparingly, and the content of essential oil components is minimal, which makes the smell of fragrant grass weak. Plant it in warm, even hot locations.
The fertility of the soil does not matter; the polygonum is capable of throwing out flowers even on depleted soil. The soil must be loose, permeable to air and water, and moisture at the roots should not stagnate.
It is advisable to dig up the area in the fall; it would not be a bad idea to add humus - you should not skimp on your garden. Keep a distance of 20-25 cm between individual plants. Handle the seedlings together with a clod of earth so that they begin to grow faster and grow. It is advisable to mulch the plantings with humus or compost.
Caring for agastache in open ground
Watering
Lofant is hardy, but it is better not to torment it with drought. For normal growth and flowering, regular moderate watering, the soil should not be over-moistened. The purpose of watering is to compensate for the lack of precipitation, and not to maintain constant humidity.
Feeding
If the leaves will be used for food purposes, harvested as a spice or medicinal raw material, these plants should not be fed. Only decorative lofants should be fertilized to maintain flowering. It is enough to apply a full dose of complex mineral fertilizer 2-3 times per season (from June and no later than mid-August) at intervals of 3-4 weeks.
Agastache is not able to cope with weeds on its own. Weeding is a mandatory maintenance procedure. After rain and watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil. Mulching the area will relieve you of these responsibilities.
Overwintering of multi-grass
In conditions middle zone Russia needs to protect the roots of the plant from getting wet in winter. To properly prepare the lofant for wintering, in mid-September you should cut off all the stems without regret (even if the bushes are blooming), leaving stumps about 10 cm high. Before the first frost, cover the plantings with dry leaves and top with spruce branches.
Diseases and pests
This perennial is disease-resistant, and its spicy aroma drives away any pests.
The plant is affected by gray rot when the plantings are thickened (keep a gap of at least 20 cm between plants) or from waterlogging of the soil (rainy summer or excessive watering). It is necessary to save fragrant beauties with special fungicides; several treatments may be required. It is also advisable to plant dense bushes at the appropriate time; adjust watering if the soil is waterlogged due to your fault.
Agastache in landscape design
In large flower beds, lofant bushes will add volume and introduce a new texture. They are used to create landscape colorful plantings, decorate mixborders, ridges, empty garden areas, as a modern border accent. They will enliven any boring corner, look good against the background of the lawn, and fit any style (prairie, avant-garde, modern and others). Thanks to the aroma of lofant, the best place is near recreation areas and terraces - butterflies, bees, bumblebees tirelessly scurry over the flowers.
When grown in a container, these plants will turn into a mobile (portable) decoration; they can be placed in any sunny place.
Mint is a suitable partner for the plant.
Types and varieties of agastache with photos and names
Polygonum or wrinkled agastache, also known as aniseed agastache Аgastache rugosa
A perennial herbaceous plant that successfully overwinters in open ground if properly prepared. A very popular species, inferior to others in terms of decorativeness, but its soft green leaves exude the aroma of anise, and the remaining parts have a licorice aroma. The short, hairy spikes of purple inflorescences add boldness. Popular names of the species: Mexican mint, Korean mint, Tibetan lofant.
- Honey Bee - blooms luxuriantly from May until the onset of frost, but is recommended for cultivation as an annual plant;
- Honey Bee Blue - bushes about 0.7 m high, leaves smell of mint, clusters of inflorescences have a bluish tint;
- Blue Spike - deep blue inflorescences.
Mexican polygonum or Mexican lofant Agastache Mexicana
Mexican variety Agastache mexicana ‘Sangria’ photo
A more popular species, it reproduces easily, self-sows, and overwinters well. The height of the plant is 0.7-1 m, the bushes grow quickly. The leaves are heart-shaped with serrated edges, emerald green, and tender to the touch. The elongated, pubescent pink-purple inflorescences contrast effectively with the greenery. Carlile Carmine - the developed variety is distinguished by long flowering and carmine-colored corollas.
Lofant pallida Аgastache pallida or Lofant barbera Аgastache barberi
Not cultivated, but has become the basis for breeding decorative variety Firebird (fire bird). Bushes no more than 60 cm high. Leaves are small with jagged edges, grayish in color. Against this background, bright orange flowers flash, which, despite their brightness, look modest.
Mountain polygonum or mountain lofant Аgastache rupestris
Dense bushes 45-90 cm high. The leaves are linear, green-gray in color, and are superior in aroma to the wrinkled polygonum. The color of the corollas is yellow-orange. With drainage in the holes and dry shelter, it can overwinter normally.
More cold-resistant varieties have been bred; in addition, they bloom in the first year:
- Desert Sunrise – taller bushes;
- Sunset - bushes half a meter high, inflorescences of a lilac-orange hue with beautiful transitions;
- Blazing Sunset – enchants with its mint aroma and warm yellow-orange tone of the corollas.
Varieties of Lofantha agastache polygrass photo
Agastache variety Agastache - Blue Fortune photo
This plant loves full sun and well-drained soil and does well in containers. The variety is resistant to heat and drought, and due to its aromatic properties it attracts bees and butterflies.
Agastache variety Agastache - Tutti Frutti photo
This plant prefers well-drained soil with full sun. It is an upright, bushy perennial plant with fragrant gray-green leaves. Raspberry-red flowers grow on loose spikes from mid-summer to late autumn. Flower spikes have a long flowering period.
Agastache rupestris variety Agastache rupestris Licorce Mint Hyssop photo
Licorce Mint Hyssop is a perennial plant that many enjoy in the garden for its spicy aroma, uniquely colored flowers and finely textured foliage. Agastache rupestris loves roast sunny place in well-drained soil.
Agastache variety Agastache – Sonoran Sunset photo
Sonoran Sunset has compact blue-green foliage with upright branching stems and large lavender rose flowers. Blooms earlier and longer than standard types. Sonoran Sunset is aromatic and very drought tolerant.
Agastache variety Agastache - Mandarin Dream photo
When damaged, the gray-green leaves emit a citrus and mint aroma and very beautifully decorate the stems, topped with apricot, tubular flowers that appear on tall stems 4.0-50 cm. Flowering begins in late June, forming a lush carpet of flowers. It can't be stopped until the first frost ends the party.