Coronado Hyssop

Coronado® hyssop is [Plant Select’s Agastache aurantiaca selection ‘P012S’](https://plantselect.org/plant/agastache-aurantiaca-p012s/), a compact, aromatic perennial with silvery foliage and yellow flowers topped by orange “helmets.” It brings warm-season color to sunny, dry borders and supports visiting pollinators. ## Form and flowering Plant Select lists 16 inches tall with a spread of 12 inches or more, and flowering from midsummer until autumn frost. Size reports vary: [Colorado State Extension](https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/herbaceous-perennials/) lists 2–3 feet for Coronado®, while the [Morton Arboretum](https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/golden-hyssop/) lists about 24 inches; growth depends on site and growing conditions. The flowers are tubular, fragrant, and orange-yellow, and the leaves release a minty scent when brushed. ## Site and soil Plant in full sun or a warm microclimate with well-drained soil, as recommended by Plant Select and Colorado State Extension. Coronado® performs poorly with overwatering; once established, keep it on the dry side. Plant Select recommends loam or sandy soil, and Colorado State Extension flags drainage as important. Its listed USDA hardiness is zones 5–9. The arboretum also reports that the cultivar attracts pollinators and has silvery aromatic leaves. ## Maintenance Wait until spring to cut back the old stems, allowing them to protect the crown over winter. Avoid repeatedly wet soil, and water new plants while they establish. The silvery foliage and bright flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in suitable regions.