Agastache cana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Agastache cana
Scientific classification
Genus:	Agastache
Species:	cana
Distribution of Agastache cana

Agastache cana, often called the mosquito plant, Texas hummingbird mint, or double bubble mint, is a tough plant that comes back every year. It belongs to a group of plants called Agastache (say it: ag-uh-STAH-kee). The name Agastache comes from ancient Greek words meaning "a lot of spikes." This is because the plant has 12 flower spikes that stand tall. These spikes stay on the plant from early summer until late fall. The mosquito plant grows naturally in New Mexico and western Texas. You can find it in mountains, often at high places, around 6,000 feet up.

What Does the Mosquito Plant Look Like?

This plant usually grows about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, like a small bush. It stands up straight and has many branches. Its leaves are shaped like eggs and are a grayish-green color. The word cana in its name means "grey." These leaves smell like mint and bubblegum!

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the mosquito plant are dark pink and shaped like tubes. They grow in tight clusters on tall spikes. Each flower has five petals joined together. Two petals stick out like a small visor, and the other three form a lip. These flowers contain both male and female parts. This means they are hermaphroditic. The plant produces many flowers all season long. It starts blooming in early June and keeps going until late September. After the flowers, small fruits appear. Each fruit splits into four tiny, dark, nut-like seeds, about 2 mm long.

Where Does the Mosquito Plant Live and How Does It Grow?

You can find Agastache cana in the southern mountains of New Mexico and Texas. It grows at elevations of about 5,000 to 6,000 feet. These plants often grow in cracks of granite cliffs or along the edges of canyons. They like dry slopes and soil that is not too acidic or too alkaline (neutral pH).

Growing Conditions

The mosquito plant is easy to care for. It needs plenty of sunshine and soil that drains water well. Good drainage helps stop mold and mildew from growing. It needs a medium amount of water to stay healthy. This plant can handle dry periods, so it is drought-tolerant. It can also survive cold temperatures, down to about −20 °F. Agastache cana grows well in contained areas and herb gardens.

Attracting Wildlife

This plant is great for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Butterflies are drawn to the sweet smell of the flowers. Hummingbirds love the bright red or purple tubular flowers and their sweet nectar.

Cool Uses for This Plant!

The mosquito plant is known for several interesting uses.

Studying Hummingbirds

Scientists use the mosquito plant to attract broad-tailed hummingbirds. This helps them study how these birds migrate, or travel, from one place to another.

Edible and Ornamental Uses

You can use the dried petals and leaves of this plant to make tea. It is also a popular plant for decorating rock gardens in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. People love its beautiful flowers and pleasant scent.

Natural Mosquito Repellent

One of the most important uses of Agastache cana is as a natural mosquito repellent. This plant is part of the mint family and has a strong-smelling oil. This oil helps keep many flying insects, including mosquitoes, away. It works much like the citronella-geranium hybrid plant. To release the mosquito-repelling smell, you need to crush the plant and rub it onto surfaces. Many people even rub the crushed plant directly onto their skin. When used with other methods, like controlling mosquito breeding spots, Agastache cana can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area.