Agastache Species, Anise Hyssop, Giant Hyssop, Licorice Mint, Lavender Hyssop

On Jul 25, 2016, Iridescent from Chantilly, VA wrote:

I agree with the many other comments giving so much praise for this excellent plant. Instead of gushing too about the many merits of this plant, I'd just say this: If you desire a pollinator paradise in your garden, how can you not plant Agastache foeniculum?

Pollinators seem to have a grand time visiting and enjoying this plant. People also get so much direct benefit from having this in their garden -- from having a supply of fresh leaves for a relaxing tisane tea to having a beautiful stand of tall fragrant green leaves and purple spires decorating the garden.

On Aug 11, 2015, Ted_B from Birmingham, AL (Zone 8a) wrote:

Easily cultivated in a sunny to partly sunny location in moist, well draining soil. Grows vigorously and flowers considerably in its first year, eventually forming a tall stand. This plant isn't just for the bees - the fragrant leaves possess considerable culinary potential (e.g. Vietnamese pho). This is one of the more easily cultivated, rewarding, ornamental herbals one can have in the garden.

On Feb 7, 2014, Rickwebb from Downingtown, PA wrote:

A very good pollinator plant. Easy to grow in almost any sunny location. Doesn't need staking. The crushed foliage has the aroma of mint and licorice. A good number are sold at most native and regular nurseries.

On May 16, 2012, l6blue from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4b) wrote:

I planted three of these in partial shade last year. This year, my bed is covered in seedlings. It's not a problem, though, as they are easy to pull. I love the anise scent, and the birds, bees, and butterflies love them.

On Apr 4, 2011, kct0 from Kansas City, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

This volunteered itself beside the bird feeders...and I left it there just because I missed "weeding" it, then, once I realized it smelled like Anise, it was a keeper...weed or not ;) Imagine my surprise to find it can be used for teas and is so attractive to so many critters and birds, too and has a pretty flower spike, as well as fragrance? Well, it's a winner all around and might explain why the thistle feeder gets so little attention.

Finally took some seeds from it this season with the intention of spreading the plant around a little. I've found it easy to contain by just pulling any sprigs beyond where I want it...it's original home...and it has not gotten out of hand at all.

On Jun 30, 2010, merginglight from Gravette, AR wrote:

I started my plant by seeds I had purchased. Started in the house in the window and put outside in it's seed growing container when the weather warmed. The weather turned bad twice with snow storms, but I kept the seedlings outside anyway, under plastic. I had planted roughly nine seeds and only three came up and those seemed set back for a month or two. But, once the weather turned warm and then hot and stayed that way, the plants took off and are very healthy. This is my first experience with Anise Hyssop and today I've picked some mature leaves to have tea and am now sipping Anise Hyssop tea for the first time. My husband I and both enjoy the tea. I look forward to allowing the flowers to grow and to save seeds so to grow more next year and to give away to friends and family.

On Mar 17, 2010, gojo from Camano Island, WA (Zone 8a) wrote:

It is the closest thing I have gotten to a perfect plant in my opinion. Looks good, smells good, tastes good and attracts numerous animals.

On Sep 1, 2009, Erutuon from Minneapolis, MN wrote:

This plant grows at our local city part in a few places as a part of prairie plantings. Another kind of hyssop with a different flavor (more minty) is more common — maybe Agastache scrophulariifolia.

Update: Two years ago (2009) I took some seeds from the park and sprinkled them in a pot of soil from the garden. After winter, they sprouted (2010), and I planted one seedling in a new garden patch in the middle of our lawn. The same year, it grew into a large bushy plant, aided by frequent watering and deep soil, and had many flowers, perpetually covered by bumblebees. The flowers are sweet and taste like licorice.

I had left other seedlings in the pot, and they didn't grow much larger. This year (2011), I moved them to places around the yard.

On Sep 17, 2008, gardenfinds from Tulsa, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

I planted two small plants nine years ago and it has reseeded itself into a "grove" of hyssop! It's a late Summer bloomer and loved by butterflies, bees, wasps, etc. and smells great. It's pretty invasive but easy to pull out where you don't want it. I originally one in what I called the butterfly garden in a corner of the yard but turned that area into a veggie garden with five raised beds and the hyssop still comes back every year in those beds. Like I said, it's easy to pull out. It's a great plant for a large open area and likes a lot of sun.

On Jul 4, 2007, dkm65 from Cedar Falls, IA (Zone 4b) wrote:

I have mixed reactions to this plant. On the good side, it definitely is loved by a wide range of pollinators and flowers long and vigorously. It grows well from seed (cold, moist stratification dramatically improves germination), and flowers the first year. If you need a U.S. prairie native that will give you quick results in a new planting, this is definitely a winner. It has an fairly strong anise scent which many like.

The reason for my neutral is that it is an incredibly prolific self-seeder and can overwhelm a garden or bed very quickly. While it doesn't spread aggressively by rhizomes, it is very aggressive, and needs vigilant pulling of seedlings to keep it in check. I'd discourage someone planting more than a couple per 100 sq. feet, and even then you'll have ... read moreto work to keep it from overwhelming less vigorous forbs.

On Oct 17, 2006, vcfgb from Lansing, MI (Zone 5b) wrote:

This is a native, drought tolerant plant in the mint family. I planted a couple small clumps from divisions, and they have done very well -- over 4 feet tall! The long spikes flower from mid-summer right through fall, and as someone else noted, the goldfinches really like the seeds. Bumblebees and various beneficial insects are attracted to this plant. The leafs in spring and summer have a nice purplish tint and smell wonderful. The seeds easily knock out when mature; I have started some by simply sprinkling them in a pot with potting mix/soil and leaving it out overwinter. I had a nice potted plant for outdoors the next year. Having left the pot out overwinter again, the plant survived and did well another year! I think it only got some fallen maple leafs for fertiliser. Use its ... read moreleafs as an alternative to mint in beverages or a garnish. It does best in full sun, and often its lower leafs fall off, so something shorter planted in front can help hide bare stems. Give the licorice mint room though, as it can spread 2 feet across, or even more as the heavy flowering spikes lean out in all directions. It looks great swaying in the wind, which it can take a fair amount of.

On May 31, 2006, fmanddk from Chicago, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:

Planted from seed many years ago. In the fall noticed from the back porch that it seemed covered in yellow. Upon closer examination, realized it was covered in goldfinches! Every fall since then the goldfinches descend to feed on the tiny seeds. It's fun to watch. The leaves make great tea, esp. combined with Bee Balm leaves.

On Feb 3, 2006, srczak from Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) wrote:

In addition to all the other notes, I've found this plant throwing some seedlings which don't smell like anise at all, but like strong, pungent mint; maybe 5-10 percent of the seedlings. Interesting. Love the plant for all reasons given.

On Jan 10, 2006, ViolaAnn from Ottawa, ON (Zone 5a) wrote:

I LOVE licorice. Often chew a leaf or two of this plant for my licorice fix. Self seeds readily. The only trouble is the seedlings look a lot like lemon balm which has threatened to take over my garden in the past and I sometimes weed them out too quickly.

On Jun 10, 2005, BettyAlready from Petersburg, NY wrote:

Found it by chance at a local nursery--planted it and loved it. It's coming back beautifully this year. I am planning on planting more.

On Nov 2, 2004, nevrest from Broadview, SK (Zone 3a) wrote:

Anise hyssop grows wild here in Saskatchewan (Zone 3). Grows 2 - 3 ft tall here in the wild.
In the garden it gets larger. The bees loves it.

On Aug 23, 2004, walksaved from Spokane, WA wrote:

Bees love it. It's grown 3 feet plus three years in a row. It wants to flop once it's loaded with blooms but it's easy to band the tidy stalks. Smells good. Looks great. Nice blush on the spring growth.

On May 24, 2004, ccwales from Wales, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:

A plant from a friend, last year it was about 3' tall and beautiful. Self sows very readily (even over our unusually cold winter); I see over 100 babies sprouting up everywhere. A wonderful plant. Colorful, pretty leaves (which you can use to make tea), and should be easy to control by pulling up the seedlings.

On Jan 22, 2003, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

The plant tends to flop unless grown in full sun, requiring staking.

On Aug 17, 2002, BJT72 from Perrysburg, OH (Zone 5a) wrote:

Very fragrant, like licorice, its a very neat and tidy plant and quite long-lived.