| Habitats
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Ground Cover; Hedge; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.
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| Edible Uses
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Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves.
Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or used as a flavouring in soups, salads etc[4, 14, 183]. A strongly aromatic flavour, somewhat like a cross between sage and mint, it has fallen out of favour in recent years[4, 238]. It can be used fresh or dried[21].
Flowers - raw. Added to salads[183].
An essential oil from the plant is used as a food flavouring[183].
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| Medicinal Uses
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Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic; Aromatherapy; Astringent; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Pectoral; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic;
Vasodilator.
Hyssop has a long history of medicinal use and was so highly esteemed in the past that it was considered to be a virtual cure-all[254]. Currently an undervalued herb, it is often used as a household remedy, particularly as an expectorant and stomach tonic[4, 254]. It has a positive effect when used to treat bronchitis and respiratory infections, especially where there is excessive mucous production[254]. Hyssop can irritate the mucous membranes, so it is best given after an infection has peaked, when the herb's tonic action encourages a general recovery[254]. The plant should not be used by pregnant women, however, since in large quantities it can induce a miscarriage[7].
The leaves and flowering tops are antiseptic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, pectoral, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[4, 7, 9, 21, 165, 238]. The plant can be harvested when in full flower and dried for later use[4]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of flatulence, stomach-aches, upper respiratory tract infections, coughs in children etc[222, 238]. A poultice made from the fresh herb is used to heal wounds[4, 238].
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Stability'[210]. This oil should not be used on people who are highly strung as it can cause epileptic symptoms[7, 254]. The essential oil should not be used internally except under professional supervision[254].
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| Other Uses
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Essential; Fungicide; Ground cover; Hedge; Pot-pourri; Repellent; Strewing; Hedge.
Hyssop can be grown as a dwarf hedge, it responds well to trimming in the spring[14, 52, 182].
The growing plant attracts cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas[14, 18, 20]. Another report says that hyssop attracts cabbage white butterflies and should not be grown near cabbages[201].
An essential oil from the leaves is antiseptic and also used in perfumery and as a food flavouring[200, 201]. It has a particularly fine odour and is much valued by perfumers[4]. Average yields of the oil are about 0.6%[7]. Yields from the blue-flowered variety are 1 - 1.5% essential oil, the red-flowered variety yields about 0.8%, whilst the white-flowered form yields 0.5% essential oil[240].
The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[4, 200] and is also used in pot-pourri[245].
A tea made from the leaves is useful for controlling bacterial plant diseases[201].
Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[208].
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| Cultivation details
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Prefers a light, dry calcareous soil and a sunny position[1, 14, 37, 52].
A very cold-hardy plant, when dormant it can tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[187].
Hyssop has very aromatic leaves and is commonly grown in the herb garden where it makes a good edging plant to a border[4]. There are some named varieties[183]. The plant needs to be trimmed regularly to keep it in shape, untrimmed plants will soon degenerate. Spring is the best time to trim the plants[238]. It is probably best to replace the plants every few years. The flowers have a rich aromatic fragrance[245].
Hyssop is a very good plant for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden[4, 20]. It is a good companion plant to grow with grapes, but it grows badly with radishes[14, 18, 20].
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| Propagation
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Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Very easy, the seed germinates quickly. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7 cm with a heel, June/July in a frame[11, 78]. Fairly easy, the cuttings root quite quickly. Grow on the plants in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in late spring.
Cuttings of greenwood, 5 - 7 cm with a heel, April/May in a frame[1]. Plant out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[1, 4].
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| Botanical References
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| 11200
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| Links / References
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| [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
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| Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
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| [4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
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| Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
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| [7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
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| Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
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| [9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
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| Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
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| [11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
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| A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
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| [14]Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs.
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| A good herbal.
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| [17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
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| A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
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| [18]Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants.
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| Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.
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| [20]Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.
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| Fairly good.
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| [21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
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| Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
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| [37]Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant.
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| Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
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| [52]Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round.
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| A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.
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| [78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
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| A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
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| [165]Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
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| An excellent small herbal.
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| [182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
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| Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
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| [183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
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| Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
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| [187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.
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| Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
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| [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
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| Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
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| [201]Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting.
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| A well produced and very readable book.
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| [208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover
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| An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
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| [210]Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use.
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| An excellent little pocket guide. Very concise.
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| [222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
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| A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
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| [238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
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| A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
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| [240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
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| Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
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| [245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.
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| An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
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| [254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
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| An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
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| Subject : Hyssopus officinalis |
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