My Account
Basket
Description
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), also known as Blue Giant Hyssop or Fragrant Giant Hyssop, is a hardy herbaceous perennial prized for its aromatic leaves and long-lasting summer flowers. Despite its name, it is not closely related to true hyssop, but it shares the same wonderfully fragrant qualities.
From mid to late summer, Anise hyssop produces tall spikes of lavender-purple flowers that continue well into autumn. These nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to pollinating insects, especially honey bees and butterflies, making them an excellent choice for wildlife gardens and pollinator-friendly borders.
The leaves have a pleasant aniseed scent and a gentle liquorice flavour. They can be used fresh or dried to make herbal tea, added to salads, or used as a fragrant culinary herb. With its combination of beauty, scent, and wildlife value, Anise hyssop is both a practical and decorative garden plant.
How to Identify
Anise hyssop grows as upright, clump-forming perennials with neat, aromatic green foliage. The leaves are oval and slightly toothed, releasing a sweet aniseed fragrance when crushed.
In summer, slender flower spikes rise above the foliage, covered in small tubular lavender to purple blooms. These upright terminal spikes give the plant its distinctive shape and make it easy to recognise in borders and herb gardens.
Plants typically reach around 60–90cm in height, creating an elegant, natural-looking display that fits well in cottage gardens and informal planting schemes.
How to Grow
Anise hyssop is easy to grow and performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. It thrives in warm, sunny positions and is well-suited to borders, herb beds, and wildflower-style plantings.
Once established, it is naturally drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance. Plant in spring or autumn, allowing enough space for plants to develop into full clumps.
Deadheading spent flowers will help encourage continued blooming, while leaving some seed heads in place can provide food for birds later in the season.
Reliable, fragrant, and rich in nectar, Anise hyssop is a wonderful addition to any garden looking to support pollinating insects while enjoying months of colourful, aromatic blooms.
