Identifying a Purple/Red Cone-Shaped Flower with Herbal Scent

Identifying a Purple/Red Cone-Shaped Flower with Herbal Scent

A gardener in Ulster County, NY, saw a 4–5 ft plant with deep purple/red, narrow cone-shaped blooms (2 inches tall) and a strong basil-like herb scent. Their landscaper son didn't recognize it.

Identification Challenges

Fragrance is a key clue but hard to convey without a photo. The description suggests a few possibilities:

• Salvia species (some have herbal scents and cone-like spikes).
• Agastache (anise hyssop) – licorice/basil scent, tubular flowers in spikes.
• Monarda (bee balm) – herbal scent, but flowers are shaggy heads, not cones.
• Perovskia (Russian sage) – lavender-blue, not purple/red.

Next Steps

Email a clear digital photo (under 200 KB) to viktoria@glenbrookplants.com. Include leaf description (shape, arrangement, texture) and whether the plant is herbaceous or woody. A photo dramatically increases identification accuracy.