Agastache foeniculum
Family Lamiaceae
Anise hyssop tastes like licorice folded into mint — a native tea herb whose leaves and flower spikes go straight into the pot, no drying required. From summer into fall the lavender-blue spires keep coming, which is longer than most of the garden can say.
Few pollinator plants pull bees harder — a patch in bloom hums audibly. It grows fast to 2-4 feet, handles dry spells, and politely self-sows so the stand renews itself. Set it near the vegetable garden and let it run the pollinator shift for you.
Full Sun
Low water
Fast growth
Native to North America
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Our Plant Library collection carries anise hyssop — Agastache foeniculum, print Nº 23, “Anise Hyssop.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what anise hyssop actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Anise Hyssop · Common problems
1 problem on file
None major
1 problem on file
Anise Hyssop · Growing & propagation
LightWater
Soil
Fertilizer
PruningCut back previous year growth in spring.
SpacingPropagateAnise Hyssop · Seasonal care & spray guidance
early spring
3 jobsSowingIn springSow in spring and barely cover the seed, pressing it onto the soil surface rather than burying it. Expect germination in one to four weeks. A period of cold, moist stratification before sowing raises the strike rate, and plants sown this way often bloom their first year. Anise hyssop seed needs light to germinate, so seed buried at any depth simply sits there and rots.
DividingIn springLift and split the rhizomatous clump in spring or fall, replanting the vigorous outer pieces 12 to 36 inches apart and discarding the woody center. Sterile hybrids like Blue Fortune will not come true from seed, so division or semi-ripe summer cuttings are the only way to keep them going. Anise hyssop is a short-lived perennial that spreads by rhizomes, so dividing renews the clump before the original crown gives out.
PruningIn springLeave the dead stalks standing all winter. Cut them off in spring once new foliage starts pushing from the base of the plant. Cutting the stalks down after a hard frost strips the crown of its own winter cover and leaves the seed heads unavailable to birds. The emerging basal foliage is the signal that the plant survived and no longer needs them.
at bloom
2 jobsPruningAt bloomCut spent flower spikes off as they fade through the first half of the bloom season to pull a second flush of flowers. Once bloom is winding down toward fall, stop deadheading and let the last spikes ripen into seed. Removing spent spikes denies the plant its seed set, so it pushes out more flowers instead. Letting the final spikes mature gives you self-sown replacements for a perennial that does not live long, plus seed for birds.
HarvestingAt bloomLeaves are usable any time through the season, but for tea or drying take them when the flowers are just past full bloom. Flower spikes can be cut at the same time for fresh or dried arrangements, and both leaves and flowers are edible. Essential oil content in the foliage peaks just past full bloom, which is when the anise flavor is strongest.
the growing season
1 jobWhat to watch forThrough summerCheck the foliage through humid stretches for powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots and rust. Manage it by spacing plants 12 to 36 inches apart and siting them where air moves freely rather than by spraying. If the crown is collapsing rather than the leaves spotting, the cause is wet soil, not a foliar disease. These are humidity diseases that take hold in still, crowded air. Anise hyssop has no significant insect pests, so the whole disease question is a siting and airflow question.
Anise Hyssop · Calculators & field guides
Anise Hyssop · Yearly calendar
HarvestJanuary to December
BloomPruneHarvestBloomJune to November
PruneMarch to May
HarvestJanuary to December
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Anise Hyssop · Ecology & uses
Agastache foeniculum
Attracts
Moisture
DeerProtect young plants
Origin✓ Commonly eaten
UseUseUseEdible valueLeaves/Flowers anytime.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Anise Hyssop · Varieties & cultivars
Named varieties of anise hyssop differ in winter-chill needs, ripening time, hardiness, and whether they set fruit on their own — pick one that fits your climate.
2 varieties
Minty crushed foliage with licorice undertones; leaves used for tea — A hybrid of A. foeniculum and A. rugosa with thick powder-blue spikes and a very long bloom period. NC State notes it is unusually tolerant of humidity for a hyssop, which matters in the Southeast where the species sulks. Intolerant of heavy clay.
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Strongly fragrant foliage — An All-America Selections winner with golden-chartreuse foliage that is brightest yellow in spring, over the usual lavender-blue flowers. Markedly less cold hardy than the species, so zone 4 and 5 growers should expect to lose it. NC State cut-flower trials found it weak and low-vigor in year one, tripling stem yield in year two once established, and noted it may want extra fertilizer.
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Sources & plant identity
Agastache foeniculum
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Anise Hyssop questions, answered straight.
Anise Hyssop is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
Leaves/Flowers anytime.
Division or seed.
Where anise hyssop sits in the library.
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