- Description
Semi-hardy, short-lived perennial with soft, ovate leaves with a strong anise scent. Grows in clumps 2-3 feet tall with striking purple flower spikes that last all summer.
Anise hyssop live perennial plant in a 3-4 inch pot. Plant sizes vary.
More about Anise Hyssop:
Attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds to your garden with this long-blooming perennial. Also called licorice mint, fragrant giant hyssop, or lavender hyssop, anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a member of the mint or Lamiaceae family native to the North and Central United States. It features ovate leaves, fragrant, purple flower spikes, and tiny seeds. An anise hyssop plant is excellent for wildlife gardens, beekeepers, herbalists, cooks, and crafters.
Anise hyssop leaves and flowers have a licorice flavor and make beautiful additions to herbal teas, salads, jellies, and baked goods. Studies have shown that anise hyssop may have antibacterial properties, and herbalists have historically used the plant to treat various ailments, including depression, cough, fever, and other respiratory illnesses.
The long-lasting flowers which have earned hyssop one of its common names, hummingbird mint, also make excellent additions to fresh and dried bouquets and potpourris. Hang the stems in small bundles upside down, out of direct sunlight, to dry. Placing paper bags over the bundles will keep them dust free and catch any falling plant material.
How to Grow Anise Hyssop Plants
Anise hyssop plants grow best when planted in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, fertile loamy, sandy, or chalky soil. Water your newly planted anise hyssop regularly, keeping the soil moist for four weeks.
Once established, anise hyssop is a drought-tolerant, perennial plant that needs little maintenance. Apply 1-2 inches of finished compost around your plant each spring.
• Semi-Hardy, Short-Lived Perennial
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Soil: Well-Drained, Loamy, Chalky, Sandy
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
• Bloom Period: Mid-Summer to Fall
• Mature Size: 2-3 Feet Tall, Clumps 1-3 Feet Wide
• Medicinal
• Culinary