Botanical Name: Agastache hybrid ‘Kudos™ Mandarin’

Common Name: Hummingbird Mint

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 5–10)

Size: 14–18" Tall × 14–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Mounded, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor or Sandy Soils

Water Needs: Low to Moderate Once Established; Drought Tolerant

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall

Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Nitrogen

Features: Bright Mandarin-Orange Flower Spikes, Aromatic Foliage, Heat Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Strong Pollinator Appeal

Uses: Ideal for Borders, Containers, Pollinator Gardens, Perennial Beds, and Small-Space Plantings

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

More About Agastache × hybrida ‘Kudos™ Mandarin’

Kudos Mandarin is the Agastache I recommend when customers are looking for more energy. The saturated orange color is unmistakable in the garden—bright, cheerful, and impossible to ignore—especially in a genus that usually leans cool and muted. Where softer tones like Kudos Coral feel gentle and blending, Mandarin brings warmth and brightness that pulls the eye forward. It’s a great way to wake up a border or add punch to a container without relying on annuals.

Like the rest of the Kudos™ Series, bred by Terra Nova, Mandarin was designed with restraint in mind. The plant stays compact, dense, and well-branched from the base, rather than stretching or opening up as Summer progresses. Even when it’s in full bloom, it holds a rounded, balanced shape that doesn’t crowd its neighbors. The foliage is aromatic and clean, and I’ve found it holds up well even during hot, dry stretches when less disciplined Agastache start to look tired.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trial gardens here in the SC Upstate, ‘Kudos Mandarin’ has been a reliable performer in full sun and lean, well-drained soil. It gets going early, flowers steadily, and never needs staking or corrective pruning to stay presentable. We planted it along a south-facing path one season, fully exposed to heat and reflected light, and it never skipped a beat while other perennials struggled. We’ve also used it in containers near seating areas where its color really pops, and it holds its own all season without constant attention.

Pollinators make a beeline for it. Hummingbirds seem especially attracted to the vivid orange spikes, often returning multiple times a day, while bees and butterflies fill in around them. It’s one of those plants I catch myself stopping to watch, because there’s almost always something visiting it. What I appreciate most is how predictable it is—no flopping, no thinning, no surprises. When I need bold color in a controlled footprint, ‘Kudos Mandarin’ is the Agastache I go for.

Kudos™ Mandarin vs. Other Agastache

Mandarin is prized for its intense orange coloration and compact, highly controlled growth habit, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want bold color without excessive size. Compared to taller, more open varieties like Black Adder, Mandarin remains dense, upright, and well-branched, holding its form cleanly from early summer through peak bloom. Its smaller stature makes it especially effective in containers, tight borders, and high-impact accent plantings where structure matters.

When contrasted with cooler-toned selections like Beelicious® Pink, Mandarin delivers warm, fiery contrast that instantly draws the eye—and hummingbirds. It pairs beautifully with other compact varieties like Little Adder, but stands out for its richer, more saturated orange hue. For modern landscapes, pollinator gardens, and designers seeking concentrated color in a restrained footprint, Kudos Mandarin is one of the most vibrant and reliable Agastache choices available.