Bloomipedia
Nettle-leaf giant hyssop (Agastache urticifolia)
Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Nettle-leaf giant hyssop

Agastache urticifolia

Nettle-leaf giant hyssop (Agastache urticifolia) is a low shrub in the Lamiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Nettle-leaf giant hyssop is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

9states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
3,902U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Utah

Quick look

Agastache urticifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name nettleleaf giant hyssop or horse mint.

  • It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Utah and Idaho. NatureServe
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 816 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #74 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 410 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #98 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (469 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
UtahNativeJune–August816
IdahoNativefew records (16)410

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records nettle-leaf giant hyssop in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Weber.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Owyhee, Power, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Nettle-leaf giant hyssop a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
120
Annual precipitation range
18 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Green · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for AGUR. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 156 counties across 9 states; the most are in Idaho (32), California (31), Utah (22).

Other Agastache on Bloomipedia (1): Anise hyssop.

More from the Lamiaceae family (44 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, American germander.

More Utah flowers

Henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule)

Henbit deadnettle

Lamium amplexicaule

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in UT: March–April
Mountain coyote mint (Monardella odoratissima)

Mountain coyote mint

Monardella odoratissima

🌼 Blooms in UT: July–September
Bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis)

Bluebeard

Caryopteris × clandonensis

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Utah gardens

Sources