ANISE HYSSOP (Agastache foeniculum, A. anethiodora)

The botanical name foeniculum refers to fennel because anise hyssop smells like fennel. This plant is a member of the mint family as is evidenced by its square stems. This is a plant which is said to grow three feet tall by one foot around, but my tallest spikes measure 4 feet 8 inches. It has toothed pointed oval leaves up to three inches long which grow in pairs up the stem about three inches apart. The stem ends in a flowered spike of tiny (1/8 inch) lavender blooms. Each bloom has two pairs of protruding stamens which is the only feature it shares with true hyssop.

The plant originated in South America, but I could find no mention of it in my history of English herb gardens, so perhaps it is a recent addition to English and North American herbs.

Anise hyssop can be grown in zones 3-8 and it isn't the least bit fussy. My clumps have just been moved from deep shade to full sun and they appear to flourish in both places; I will say the clumps have gotten taller and fuller in the sun and against a wooden fence. One reference says it does best in cool weather in a sunny location—which is what it has had for most of the summer in my garden. It is easily grown from seed sown in the fall; it will appear in spring. The books say to sow it where you want it to grow, then thin the seedlings to one foot apart. My biggest clump is easily two feet around.

The leaves of the plant are used for tea and as an ingredient in pot pourri, although my pot pourri book doesn't mention it. I like to pick a leaf and crush it to release the scent, then just sniff it as I walk through the garden.

I found references to pink hyssop and blue hyssop without botanical names, but I don’t believe anise hyssop comes in those colors. Also, one reference says the leaves are purple but the leaves on mine are green. After doing this report, I decided that anise hyssop is a contrarious herb, as the references sometimes contradict both each other and my little bit of experience!

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