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Agastache foeniculum - (Pursh.)Kuntze.

Common Name Anise Hyssop, Blue giant hyssop
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry thickets, fields and waste ground[43] on prairies and plains[235].
Range Western N. America - Ontario to Washington, south to Colorado.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop, Blue giant hyssop


(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010
Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop, Blue giant hyssop
(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Agastache foeniculum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. anethiodorum. (Nutt.)Britt.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses: Drink  Tea

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in raw or cooked dishes[108, 177, 257]. Excellent raw, they have a sweet aniseed flavour and are one of our favourite flavourings in salads[K]. They make a delicious addition to the salad bowl[183] and can also be used to flavour cooked foods, especially acid fruits[K].The only drawback to the leaves is that they tend to have a drying effect in the mouth and so cannot be eaten in quantity[K]. A pleasant tasting tea is made from the leaves[46, 61, 161, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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.
Cardiac  Diaphoretic  Pectoral  Poultice

The leaves are cardiac and diaphoretic[222, 238, 257]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of colds, fevers, weak heart etc[222]. When left to go cold, the infusion is used to treat pains in the chest (such as when the lungs are sore from too much coughing)[207]. A poultice of leaves and stems can be used to treat burns[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Attracts wildlife. Invertebrate Shelter, nectary. Aromatic.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a sunny position and a dry well-drained soil[187, 200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. The young growth in spring is very susceptible to slug damage[K]. The flowering plants are very attractive to bees and butterflies[K]. There is at least one named variety. 'Texas American' has an anise-pennyroyal fragrance and is used in a similar way to the species[183]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 12 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is flat with shallow roots forming a plate near the soil surface [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 13°c[133]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring or early summer[K]. Division in spring. Fairly simple, if large divisions are used it is possible to plant them straight out into their permanent positions. Basal cuttings of young shoots in spring[111]. Harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm tall and pot them up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse. They should root within 3 weeks and can be planted out in the summer or following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Blue Giant Hyssop, Blue Giant-hyssop, Lavender Hyssop, Licorice Mint, Wonder Honey Plant, Anise Hyssop, Anise mint [1-4].

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Finland, Moldavia, North America, Scandinavia, Tasmania, USA. Native to Canada and USA.[1-4].

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Agastache canaHoary Balm Of Gilead, Mosquito plantPerennial0.8 0-0  LMNDM20 
Agastache mexicanaMexican Giant HyssopPerennial0.8 6-10  LMNDM302
Agastache neomexicanaNew Mexico Giant Hyssop, Bill Williams Mountain giant hyssopPerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM312
Agastache rugosaKorean MintPerennial1.0 7-10  LMNDM432
Agastache urticifoliaGiant Hyssop, Nettleleaf giant hyssopPerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM31 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Pursh.)Kuntze.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Matti Kaarlas   Mon May 22 2006

Is the Agastache foeniculum safe to use if one is pregnant? Any studies on this subject?

Liesl T   Wed Nov 25 2009

Agastache foeniculum is a native to parts of northern Wisconsin. Consequently, it is probably hardy to at least Zone 4.

Dave Walter   Mon Dec 28 2009

I'm curious as to why you describe anise hyssop as: "This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]". Perhaps this is one of the "silly mistakes" you note for Ref 200: 1. This plant is fully hardy in my Zone 3 garden in Edmonton, Alberta. 2. It is considered a native species in Alberta and "The Flora of Alberta" (2nd Ed, EH Moss) has a map showing its distribution in Zone 1-2 as well. 3. The USDA Plants Database shows this species extending across Canada & into the Northwest Territories - most of this area gets well below -10. 4. The most authoritative text on herbs in Canada (Small, E. Culinary Herbs NRC-CNRC Press)also cites Huxley (1992), but also notes that A. foeniculum has survived temperatures below -25 C. Anise hyssop freely self-seeds and flowers the first year here, so it may be getting by as an annual in the more northern sites. At least two plants have survived in the same spots in my garden since 2006; however, so it is at least also capable of being a short-lived perennial here. Cold tolerance may also vary by variety, but I think you are giving anise hyssop short shrift on its cold tolerance.

Among other things, comments on the DG page show that Agastache foeniculum is much more cold hardy than suggested by this PFAF page. Included are comments from successful growers in USDA zone 4.   Jul 7 2011 12:00AM

Dave's Garden page for Agastache foeniculum, anise hyssop

   Apr 7 2017 12:00AM

Survived at -20 C for 7 nights in Ploiesti, Romania (USDA 6).

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