Hardy and frost-sensitive varieties of Agastache

Not all species are well hardy

Most types of scented nettle tolerate frost to a greater or lesser extent. Some of the scented nettles are hardy down to -23 ° C. This is largely the Agastache rugosa, which originally comes from Asia. The other scented nettles tolerate frost down to a minimum of -10 ° C. These are usually the representatives of the Agastache mexicana.

How do you protect the scented nettle from frost?

The sensitive scented nettles such as the Agastache mexicana varieties and also those that are in rough locations such as in Coastal areas and mountainous areas that have been planted outside in the open ground should be a precaution against frost to be protected.

This is how it works:

• close to the ground in autumn cut back
• Put a layer of compost over the root area
• with sticks z. B. cover with spruce or fir
• exempt from winter protection from March / April

Warning: wetness in winter is your greatest enemy!

In many cases it is less the frost that is bothering the scented nettles outside. Often it is damming moisture in the root area that heralds the imminent end of a scented nettle. The roots rot, for example, from melting snow if the water cannot drain away.

It is therefore extremely important that when planting a scented nettle, you have a drainage in the soil among others made of sand, gravel or Expanded clay(€ 16.36 at Amazon *) to ensure! On top of that, it is advisable to only plant scented nettles in protected locations.

Hibernate potted plants indoors

Is your scented nettle in the bucket on the balcony, terrace or in front of the house entrance? Then you should put them in in autumn, otherwise the root ball will freeze through and the plant will die! That's how it's done:

• Cut the scented nettle in October
• Select a bright, frost-free room
• well suited for wintering: bedrooms, winter gardens, stairwells (10 to 15 ° C cool)
• water sparingly
• do not fertilize
• Check for pest infestation