Simcoe County Master Gardeners
Grow Natives!
PLANT PROFILE
COMMON NAME: Anise Hyssop
BINOMIAL: Agastache foeniculum
| Family | Lamiaceae (Mint family) |
| Cdn Native Range | Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, North West Territories |
| Natural habitat | oak savannas, rocky woodlands, prairies, dry upland forested areas, plains and fields |
| Type | herbaceous perennial |
| Features | a fragrant, clump-forming plant that sends up spikes of showy lavender-blue flowers with an impressive long bloom time; an excellent nectar source for pollinators |
| Growth habit | upright |
| Mature height | 100 cm (3 ft) |
| Mature spread | 100 cm (3 ft) |
| Life span | short-lived perennial |
| Cdn Hardiness Zone | 4–8 |
| Growing conditions | full sun to part shade |
| Soil conditions | sandy, well-drained soil |
| Watering needs | dry to medium |
| Fertilizer needs | little or no supplemental fertilizer |
| Tolerance | plants tolerate dry soils once established |
| Maintenance rank | low |
| Maintenance needs | may be susceptible to powdery mildew; deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom |
| Bloom | fragrant lavender blooms in July and August form upright spikes; blooms are very showy and good for cut flowers or dried flowers; leaves are anise-scented |
| Fruit | dried seed heads persist into winter and provide good winter interest |
| Pollinator support | bumblebees and many other native bees; attracts hummingbirds and goldfinches |
| Environmental support | in winter goldfinches flock to the dried seed heads |
| Garden Use | borders, wildflower gardens, herb gardens, butterfly gardens or meadows, cut or dried arrangements, dried leaves for potpourris, aromatic leaves for herbal teas or jellies |
| Risks & Cautions | none |
References: Rick Gray and Shaun Booth. The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region. Firefly Books, 2024; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx
Photo Credits:
Anise Hyssop – flower (credit: TheVeganMonster, Pixabay)
Anice Hyssop – clump (credit: Saillie DAragon, Creative Commons)
