Plant DetailShow Menu

Agastache foeniculum

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ag-ah-STA-kee fen-ICK-yoo-lum
Description

Anise hyssop is a herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to north-central and northern North America, especially in the Great Plains and other prairies and fields. The Genus name comes from the Greek words meaning "very much" and "ear of wheat" referring to the flower spikes. The specific epithet comes from a Latin meaning hay.

It will grow 3 to 5 feet tall and 1.5 to 3 feet wide in full sun to partial shade in well-drained moist to dry soils. Good drainage is essential. Propagation is by division of clumps formed by the rhizomes or seeds.  it is drought tolerant and deer tend to avoid it.

The lavender to purple flowers appear in dense whorls at the top 3-6 inches of stems in mid to late summer. It is a good nectar plant and is visited by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The leaves have an anise scent and are usable as a flavoring.

Use this plant in a naturalized area, in the border of a perennial garden or in groups.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems. Watch for Spider mites, thrips, aphids, whitefly, and slugs. Watch for rust, powdery mildew and leaf spots. Crown rot can occur in too wet soils.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Blazes'
  • ‘Blue Fortune’
  • 'Golden Jubilee'
'Blue Blazes', ‘Blue Fortune’ , 'Golden Jubilee'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#salmon#violet#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#salmon flowers#rabbit resistant#disease resistant#pest resistant#violet flowers#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#vhfn#vhfn-h#wildlife friendly#hs303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Blazes'
  • ‘Blue Fortune’
  • 'Golden Jubilee'
'Blue Blazes', ‘Blue Fortune’ , 'Golden Jubilee'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#salmon#violet#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#salmon flowers#rabbit resistant#disease resistant#pest resistant#violet flowers#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#vhfn#vhfn-h#wildlife friendly#hs303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Agastache
    Species:
    foeniculum
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    USA: CO , CT , DE , IA , IL , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NY , PA , SD , WA , WI , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NT , ON , QC , SK
    Wildlife Value:
    Anise hyssop will attract bees, butterflies and/or birds to the garden.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    insects, diseases, deer and rabbit resistant
    Edibility:
    The foliage has an anise or licorice scent and can be used as flavoring in salads and teas. Seeds can be used in cookies cakes and muffins. Flower can be used as a seasoning or in tea.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit dries and splits to reveal seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Small blue to purple flowers on terminate in spikes that are about 3-6" long. The 1.3 inch 2-lipped flowers are arranged in dense whorls that are crowded along the spike. Flowering starts June and continues until late autumn.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4 inch long and 2 inch wide ovate to broad-lanceolate green leaves with toothed margins. Fragrant.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    Yes
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Square green stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Insect Pests
    Rabbits