Cornus nigra

Agastache 'Pink Pearl' just keeps on giving color through the whole summer, no matter how hot or dry it gets. This compact little hummingbird mint pumps out a dense stand of pollinator-friendly light pink flowers, all beautifully set off by those salmon pink buds. It's one of those plants that makes you look like a gardening pro with zero effort.

I'll be honest — I've had a tough time with agastache in my New England garden. The summer rain, humidity, partial shade, and wet winters have not been kind. But 'Pink Pearl'? It's stayed healthy and just keeps pumping out flowers. To make sure the drainage was good, I planted mine on a slope and gave them a gravel top-dress before winter hit. I was also careful to keep fallen leaves from piling up on top of them in fall. My three plants bloom beautifully even with several hours of shade from nearby dogwood and maple trees — I think they'd be even bushier with more sun, but they still look absolutely lovely.

Common name: 'Pink Pearl' hummingbird mint

Botanical name: Agastache 'Pink Pearl'

Origin: 'Pink Pearl' is a hybrid of different Agastache species, introduced in 2022 by Terra Nova Nurseries. Most agastaches call the hot, dry regions of North America home, especially out in the western and southwestern U.S.

Flowers: Starting in late spring, pale pink flowers open from salmon-colored buds that line up along upright stalks. Each flower opens one after another, creating this gorgeous two-toned effect over time. The show can last all summer long — what's not to love?

Foliage: Medium green with a minty scent — and it stays clean, too, with solid resistance to downy mildew. That fragrance might also help keep deer and rabbits at bay, which is always a bonus.

Size and habit: The foliage forms an upright mound about 8 to 10 inches tall, with the flower spikes pushing that height up to double. One plant spreads about 16 inches wide.

Growing Agastache 'Pink Pearl'

Exposure: Full sun for best habit and heaviest bloom; tolerates part shade

How to grow it: Agastache 'Pink Pearl' needs well-drained soil — that's the one non-negotiable — but otherwise it's not fussy at all. It'll grow and bloom in full sun or part shade, though you'll get the most flowers and the nicest compact shape in full sun. Once it's settled in, it's super drought tolerant. That said, regular rain or hand watering won't bother it as long as the drainage is sharp. Snipping off spent flower spikes will keep the blooms coming. And here's a crucial tip: make sure any agastache doesn't sit in wet soil over the winter. USDA Zones 6–10.

Image credit: Meghan Shinn