Korean mint | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Agastache |
Species: | A. rugosa |
Binomial name | |
Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Kuntze |
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Synonyms | |
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Agastache rugosa, known as Korean mint,blue licorice, purple giant hyssop, Indian mint, wrinkled giant hyssop, is an aromatic herb in the mint family, native to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Russian Primorye, Taiwan, and Vietnam).
Agastache rugosa is a perennial plant growing to 40–100 centimetres (16–39 in) tall, with square stalks that branch at the upper part. The oval-cordate leaves are oppositely arranged, 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long and 3–7 centimetres (1.2–2.8 in) broad, with coarsely serrated margins. Some leaves have hair and/or touches of white on the underside.
In July to September, purple bilabiate flowers bloom in verticillasters that are 5–15 centimetres (2.0–5.9 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 in) broad. The calyx is 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long, with five narrow triangular lobes. The petals are 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in) long, lower ones longer and the ones inside serrated. The stamens are didynamous, long, and exposed. The fruit is schizocarp, with obovate elliptical mericaps of 1.8 millimetres (0.071 in).
Korean mint grows well in fertile, moisture-retentive soils and sun. The aroma becomes weaker in shady conditions.
Korean mint can be propagated by both sexual and asexual means. The seeds gathered in autumn can be sown in the spring. One can also dig out the plant in autumn or early spring, divide the roots, and plant them at intervals of 30 centimetres (12 in).