It is said that the edible flowers have a licorice smell and taste. Hence, they are called Anise Hyssop. It is a good combination with native edible perennials like bee balm.
Growing anise hyssop is easy. Once established, they are okay with the soil type and tolerate drought. They are also a good choice for organic gardeners because of their ease of growing, lack of pests, and the fact that they don’t require fertilizer.
The Anise Hyssop is a self-seeding plant, so that you can have an endless supply of this native plant in the US.
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum or Anise Hyssop shares its common name with other plants of the mint family. They have similar growth patterns, scents, and appearance. Some other common words are blue giant Hyssop and Fragrant giant Hyssop.
It is not related to the true Hyssop, which is the Hyssopus species. It is a European herb used for centuries as a remedy. It is unrelated to Pimpinella anisum despite its common name and licorice-like scent.
This plant is native to North America’s north-central, northern, and central parts. Its most notable habitats are the Great Plains or other prairies. This perennial clump is well-suited to upland, dry forested areas.
Purple is the most common color for this native perennial. There are also many other colors and varieties, including pink, white, cream, powder blue, and clear blue. Some types include Blue Blazes, Purple Haze, and Desert Sunrise.
These flower spikes are borne on tall upright stems, which attract bees. The flower spikes are attached on square stems with Anise Hyssop leaves that reach 4 inches long and have toothed edges. They are perennial but short-lived. Most plants only last 2-3 years.
Anise Hyssop care
It is simple to grow anise hyssop, regardless of the color you select.
If you provide them with the ideal conditions for growth, they will self-seed in your garden and continue to produce flowers for many years.
The sun and temperature
Anise Hyssop likes to be in full sun. It can survive in partial shade. However, it will grow taller and lanky if it gets under six hours of sun daily.
If you want to grow the most bushy and complete plants, choose a site with 6-8 hours of sun daily. This is unless you live somewhere with temperatures regularly above 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
Partial shade can provide a respite from the extreme heat. Anise hyssop thrives in its native habitat, which includes all USDA zones 4-9. The ideal temperatures range for the growing season is about 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit during the night and 65 to 75 degrees during the day.
Perennial plants like this can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. The foliage will fall to the ground during the winter. In the spring, the lighter green leaves will appear.
Water and Humidity
Once established, anise hyssop can tolerate droughts quite well. This makes it an excellent choice for gardens with low water and xeriscape. To demonstrate, they will require consistent moisture. It is best to avoid wetting foliage and water the plants early in the morning during this period.
A drip irrigation or soaker hose will water the plant at its base. Anise hyssop, native to dry and hot areas, does not tolerate excessive humidity or moisture. Allow the space between the waterings to dry.
Soil
Anise hyssop does not tolerate poorly-drained soils. As long as the ground drains, it doesn’t matter what soil you use. Sandy soils drain moisture well and prevent standing water.
You should avoid planting Anise hyssop near low-lying areas or downspouts.
Refrain from adding too much compost or organic matter to your soil. These can cause them to retain too much water. Add perlite to the potting mix if you grow Anise hyssops in containers. This will ensure that your plants have well-drained soil.
Fertilization
Anise hyssop can be fertilized by adding compost to the planting area at planting time. It is not necessary to use additional fertilizer. Anise hyssop can be influenced by fertilizer to produce more foliage than flowers and make blue flowers later in the season.
It is possible to reduce the amount of essential oils in the flowers and foliage by using too much fertilizer. This can be detrimental, significantly if the plant is being grown as an herb because it has fragrant leaves. Fertilizers may also make it grow too quickly and too tall. This can result in a leggy, floppy, tall plant.
Pruning & Deadheading
In early spring, you can pinch back the tips of lime-green foliage to encourage bushier growth. You can deadhead the spent flowers once they start blooming to encourage additional bloom. It is not recommended to cut the stalks back completely at the end season when the plant is a perennial.
You can prune Anise Hyssop in any growth stage, but you should leave 6 inches of the stalks to protect them over the winter. The stalks can be pruned in the following year’s spring, just before they grow again.
If you want more violet-blue Anise hyssop flowers in your garden, leave the stalks standing. They will self-seed and grow.
Propagation
As mentioned above,
Most Anise Hyssops is grown in the ground. Some dwarf varieties can be grown in pots. You may need to repot the plant if you have chosen to grow it in a container.
Repotting is necessary if you notice that the plant’s growth has been significantly slowed or if roots are poking through the drainage holes.
You can avoid repotting anise hyssops because they are short-lived perennials. It is important to plant it in a container that is large enough.
