If you’re craving a splash of colour that’s as resilient as it is radiant, then let me introduce you to a star of the Agastache world: Agastache ‘Beelicious’. Created by the seed-savvy maestros at Van Hemert & Co Seeds, this delightful plant is here to steal the spotlight (and maybe a few bees’ hearts) in your garden.

How to grow Agastache ‘Beelicious’ Flowering time: June to October Location: Patio pots, cottage gardens, rockeries, wildlife gardens Soil: Well-draining soil Light: Full sun to partial shade Water: Water while establishing and throughout dry spells Care: Deadhead faded blooms to encourage reflowering. Protect roots in winter with mulch. Lift and divide overcrowded clumps in spring.  Size: 30 to 45cm height and spread

What’s different about Agastache ‘Beelicious’?

Perhaps even shorter and sweeter than the saccharine queen herself, Sabrina Carpenter, Agastache ‘Beelicious’ has tonnes of qualities that would benefit any garden. Beelicious isn’t just eye candy; it’s a magnet for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. That means a win-win for your garden’s ecosystem and your enjoyment of nature’s little workers.

Unlike their seed-setting cousins, these plants keep flowering right through to autumn. No withering away at the first sight of a cooler evening – ‘Beelicious’ delivers a cascade of colourful spikes that maintain their charm well into the cooler months.

Beelicious Purple stands tall and proud, while Beelicious Pink spreads out a bit more, offering a wide, welcoming embrace to pollinators and garden guests alike. With what creator, Rob van der Voort, affectionately calls “A. rugosa leaves,” these plants are tough as nails. They can handle the rainy summers of Northwest Europe without breaking a sweat (or a leaf). Additionally, they’re resistant to fungi and mildew – perfect for gardeners who want beauty without the constant battle against pests and diseases.

How was Agastache ‘Beelicious’ created?

Rob van der Voort at Van Hemert & Co Seeds embarked on a mission that would make even the most determined worker bee proud. For over two decades, Rob and his team have been tirelessly working on breeding new, hardy Agastache varieties. It has been a journey full of trials, triumphs, and the occasional heartbreak (as a company, they introduced Astello Indigo, Arcado Pink and Asturo White. The last one did not have any success at all.)

“Our goal was and still is to breed new varieties which are hardy and have strong leaves, less susceptible to fungi, mildew etc., but in different colours,” Rob shares. Enter Agastache rugosa: the strong, silent type with impressive foliage but a limited colour palette. Not quite the life of the garden party, right? So, what did Van Hemert & Co Seeds do? They crossed, they selected and they persevered – year after year – until they had a collection of vibrant, sterile beauties that refused to set seed. “What to do with them?” Rob pondered. After a chat with colleagues at industry exhibition Plantarium|Groen-Direkt, the answer was as sweet as honey: grow them from cuttings and apply for plant breeders’ rights as Agastache ‘Beelicious’.

After five to eight years of meticulous breeding, Agastache ‘Beelicious’ made its grand debut. First came Beelicious Purple in 2015, followed by the ever-adorable Beelicious Pink a few years later. 

Where can you plant  Agastache ‘Beelicious’?

Whether you’re edging a border, filling gaps between taller plants, or adding a splash of colour to a rockery, ‘Beelicious’ fits right in. Their unique growth habits make them adaptable to various garden settings.

Agastache ‘Beelicious’ definitely makes a great potted plant, but just make sure to water well so that the plant doesn’t dry out too much. It’s drought-resistant – but not invincible!

Where can you buy Agastache ‘Beelicious’?

You can buy Agastache ‘Beelicious’ in the UK at Hayloft Plants and Crocus, and in the EU at Promesse de Fleurs. Find them in the US at Santa Rosa Gardens.

Plant of the Month is sponsored by Plantipp, a company based in The Netherlands who handle the introduction of new plants into Europe.

See every Plant of the Month here.

Images courtesy of Plantipp.