Anise Hyssop seeds (Agastache foeniculum)

A lovely North American native perennial that produces large spikes of blue/violet flowers throughout the summer months. It likes heat and full sun but a tough plant since its native to the prairies and its fairly drought tolerant. Its not particularly fussy about the soil and although many sources claim it likes alkaline soils it seems to do just as well on neutral to slightly acid ones. It does need good drainage though and will not tolerate waterlogged soils. Hardy to zone 4 it's a tough plant that dies back to the ground every winter and comes back year after year to provide a lovely anise/licorice scent from both the leaves and the flowers. Without watering it will grow to about 3 feet (91 cm) in height but if watered regularly it can reach 6 feet (183 cm). Due to it's highly aromatic nature the deer don't eat it, there are reports of it being a favorite of rabbits however we have not had any eat ours. Butterflies and bees and humming birds love the flowers and will flock to it. The seeds are loved by goldfinches and they also flock to the plants often making it seem like they are reflowering in bright yellow blooms. Save the seeds and make your own winter birdfood! It's also great in the kitchen and the flowers can be dried to use in flower arrangements, where they also keep the delightful scent. Its great to have around the patio or even in pots on the deck. Every versitle, no garden should be without it.

Growing from 2-6 feet (61-183cm) in height (although the latter height will only be achieved with good mulching and reasonable amounts of water) it is a bushy plant with square stems and opposite leaves reaching 4" (10 cm) long and 2" (5 cm) across and mostly lanceate in shape but can be slightly heart shaped with scalloped margins. The leaves are mid green with conspicuous darker veins. The upper stems terminate in flower spikes up to 6" (15 cm) long. These are composed of small flowers arranged n dense whorls, each flower is tubular and about 1/3" (0.7cm) long and blue-violet in color. Flowers bloom in scattered locations along the spike for about two months giving lasting color. These are followed by nutlets containing the seeds. Although the flowers themselves have no actual scent the whole plant has a strong aroma that lasts and lasts.

Plant confusion. Despite its name its not really a hyssop its in the mint family - as can be seen from the square stems. Its also not an anise which is a different plant entirely (Pimpinella anisum). It does however had the scent of anise and flowers that sort of look like hyssop if you squint at it.

Seeds need light to germinate so don't cover them. Starting inside before frost is past is the best option. Germination takes anywhere from 5 -30 days depending on temperature. Transplant to larger pots as soon as plants are large enough to handle, grow on until roots are just peaking from the bottom of the pot before transplanting out. For further information on growing see our General Growing Instructions.

Location and care of Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Plants prefer full sun and reasonable water to reach their full potential. In this kind of location they will grow up to 6 feet (183 cm) with tough stems that don't blow over in high winds. This height can take 2-3 years to achieve plants tend to be no more than 3 feet (91 cm) in the first year. If planted in semi shade plants tend to grow tall and thin stems will bend over and will need staking. Some dappled shade might be tolerated in zones 8 and warmer. Anise Hyssop is not too fussy about soil type and will grow on almost anything provided it is well drained. It does well in poor soils and often will do less well in very rich soils. A little compost is good but for this plant a lot is often too much.
If watered daily - best using a soaker hose - plants will grow tall, if left alone they will grow to about 3 feet and still bloom well. I have had plants growing on a mounded pile of soil that was left over from a field project and discarded pots that were never watered. It's a tough plant once established and needs little care. Cutting down the stalks in early spring before the new growth arises is really the only time it takes. If grown in a stand alone bed this can easily be done using a lawn mower or strimmer.
Some sites report that the plant is hard to move once established due to tap roots. We have not found this and have often dug up plants moved them or donated them to our local butterfly house (butterflies love this plant) and had no problems with plants growing well.
The plant has a wondeful aroma which most people love, as to birds, butterflies, humming birds and bees but not rabbits or deer. Some have reported that rabbits eat it, we have not found that to be the case.

The leaves and flowers are edible both raw and cooked. The raw leaves can be added to salads but don't add too many as they tend to have a drying effect on the mouth. The leaves make an excellent flavoring for desserts, sweets cookies etc and can be added to fruits and other dishes especially acidic ones. It makes an excellent tea both hot and cold. Soaking the cleaned leaves in water or milk will leach out the flavor so it can be added to desserts, ice cream and anything else you like.

The leaves have been used by the native Americans for centuries to treat colds, fevers, coughs and pains in the chest. A poultice of the leaves was used to treat burns. It was also burnt in medicine bundles to purify the spirit.