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Hyssopus officinalis

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
hiss-SOP-us oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
Description

Hyssop is a semi-evergreen perennial or sub-shrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, however, it has naturalized in some areas of the USA.  

This cold hardy plant grows to a diminutive size of 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 foot to 18 inches wide.  It performs best when grown in a location that provides some shade from the hot afternoon sun.  It also prefers well-drained, fertile loam soil but will do well in a variety of other soils, including dry sandy conditions.  Trimming in the spring is best and will aid in the overall health of the plant.  Plants naturalize easily in the landscape and can be propagated via seed, stem cutting or division in the spring.  Untrimmed plants will degenerate over time.  Well-established plants are drought tolerant as well as resistant to browsing by deer.

Purple to blue fragrant flowers appear all summer and are attractive to butterflies. Hyssop is a self-fertile plant that has both male and female organs and is pollinated by bees.

It can be grown as a low hedge or planted along a slope to help with erosion management.  Hyssop works well in containers, mass planted along an edge, or used in small groups in a cottage garden.  Plant in an herb garden, along the front of a border or tucked between boulders in a rock garden.  

The flowers, leaves and oils from this plant are used as culinary flavoring.  The foliage is used as a flavoring in stews, soups and sauces.  Oils are used in Chartreuse liquor production.  

Existing plants can be propagated by division, which should be done in the spring or fall.  This semi-evergreen should not be pruned in the fall, wait until spring.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems, however, nematodes can be an issue. 

A short-lived plant, it may need to be replanted every few years.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    White flowers
  • 'Rosea'
    Pink flowers
'Alba', 'Rosea'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#semi-evergreen#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#slopes#window boxes#edging#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#frost tolerant#potpourri#rock garden#self-seeding#cutting garden#edible garden#edible leaves#subshrub#short lifespan#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#border front#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#small group plantings#sandy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#container plant#low hedge#butterfly garden#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    White flowers
  • 'Rosea'
    Pink flowers
'Alba', 'Rosea'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#semi-evergreen#fragrant leaves#blue flowers#slopes#window boxes#edging#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#frost tolerant#potpourri#rock garden#self-seeding#cutting garden#edible garden#edible leaves#subshrub#short lifespan#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#border front#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#small group plantings#sandy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#container plant#low hedge#butterfly garden#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hyssopus
    Species:
    officinalis
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Its oils are sometimes used in potpourris, as a food flavoring, in perfumes, and to flavor liquor. Leaves and flowers can be dried for popourri.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern and eastern Europe, Northern Africa, West Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects are attracted to the flowers as well as hummingbirds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Edibility:
    Its leaves and young shoot tips are edible both raw or used as a flavoring in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, and salads.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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 pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The purple-blue flowers are two lipped and have protruding stamens. The bloom on long spikes.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The fragrant shiny dark green leaves grow up to 1" in length. They are narrow, stalkless, and toothed as well as fragrant.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Square green stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Short-lived