A herbaceous perennial, Anise Hyssop is 24-36″ tall (60-90 cm) and forms clumps of flowering stalks. New growth leaves will have a purple tint, but overall the foliage will look nice until Autumn. Besides being of great value to bees and pollinators, it is generally deer resistant. Many uses exist for this valuable plant, Anise Hyssop. Essential oils are also extracted from Anise Hyssop. Growing to about 2-3′ tall, this wildflower can self-seed heavily, but other then that no real maintenance is required. I’ve never noticed any damage to my plants. This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America, notably the Great Plains and other prairies, and can be found in areas of Canada. For a similar plant that is larger, look to it’s cousin, Purple Giant Hyssop! The 1969 edition of the Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening claims that one acre planted in anise hyssop can support 100 honeybee hives. [5], Anise hyssop is considered one of the premier plants for feeding pollinators. The plants will also generally self-seed pretty easily if the conditions are kept optimum. [11], "Herbs"; Smithsonian Handbook - Lesley Bremness, "Bee Visitation and Nectar Production of Anise Hyssop", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agastache_foeniculum&oldid=977492859, Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 September 2020, at 05:00. [10], Anise hyssop was used medicinally by Native Americans for cough, fevers, wounds, diarrhea. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Her with a love of HOME DECOR DIY. Anise hyssop is known by the scientific name of Agastache foeniculum. There is little recorded history of Anise Hyssop. Anise Hyssop is native to Northern regions of North America, including states such as Wisconsin, Delaware, and Connecticut. forms: { on: function(evt, cb) { There is occasional damage from insects or slugs, but in general this is just cosmetic. Anise Hyssop (Agastache Foeniculum) is an herbaceous perennial with vibrant purple or blue flowers. The plant known as Anise Hyssop is also known by its scientific name, Agastache foeniculum. The Eastern Red Cedar is a coniferous evergreen tree that grows 20-70' tall in full sun and medium moist to dry sites. Anise Hyssop will self-seed in mulched flower beds or disturbed areas. ); It smells of a licorice scent. The plant’s genus name comes from the Greek “agan” which means “very much,” and the Greek word “stachys,” which means an “ear of wheat.”. Up Next: Anise Hyssop Flower Meaning and Symbolism, Moerman D. 1991. } Britton), commonly called anise hyssop, blue giant hyssop, Fragrant giant hyssop, or the lavender giant hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family, (Lamiaceae). It grows wild in northern regions of North America, sprawling across open prairie land and creating vast stretches of lavender blossoms from June to September. Anise Hyssop tends to be a pretty hardy plant and isn’t affected  by many diseases. That said, if the plants are kept too moist, they may develop issues such as crown or root rot. As such, the soils should be well-drained. It has been recommended as a worthy companion to Japanese anemones, but it would be equally attractive with other softly colored or white ornamentals such as companulas, or with herbs such as garlic chives, oregano and thymes. No, they are completely different species. This perennial herb or ornamental is confusingly commonly known as anise hyssop, although the plant is neither part of the hyssop species, anise seed, or a star anise. But most people don't wish to own a large tool they only use once every two years. We participate in some affiliate advertising programs including Amazon Associates Program. It can also be found in areas of Canada, such as British Columbia. Thank you for your support! In Late Summer/Early Fall the spike of flowers will all dry up, and this is when you can collect seeds. (function() { Anise Hyssop, despite the name, is not a true hyssop or an anise plant. { Some of my favorites are Partridge Pea or Black-Eyed Susan to give a nice yellow/purple contrast. Relatives of this genus include the true hyssops. [7] The root system produces a taproot. He with a love & extensive self-taught knowledge of NATIVE PLANTS, GARDENING, and woodworking. The edges of the leaves have toothed margins. Additionally, Anise Hyssop is cultivated for gardens and by bee keepers. It is often used as a medicinal plant by Native American populations. This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America, notably the Great Plains and other prairies, and can be found in areas of Canada. Anise Hyssop’s blooming period lasts up to two months, with individual flowers blooming at different times throughout that duration. Because of the long blooming period, Anise Hyssop really has a high ecological value for pollinators. Agastache foeniculum, commonly known as anise hyssop, is an upright, clump-forming perennial of the mint family that is native to parts of the upper Midwest and Great Plains (Wisconsin to Ontario west to British Columbia and south to Colorado). It is frequently used for flavoring soups, salads, teas. Any browning/crisping on the margins of the leaf are a sign that it needs some water. We are a husband and wife duo. 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