Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop - 38 Plug Tray

Anise hyssop is a short-lived herbaceous perennial that prefers full sun to part shade and sandy soils, though it can tolerate a range of soil conditions as long as they are fairly well-drained. This plant has a tidy, attractive shape, growing about three feet tall and one foot wide. Anise hyssop gets its name from its fragrant leaves which smell like licorice or anise. Its leaves range from green to purple to silver, and its mint family flowering spikes range from pale lavender to deep purple-blue, holding onto their color late into the season. Both the leaves and flowers are edible.

Anise hyssop is easy to establish and once it’s established it’s resistant to deer and drought. Its blooms are highly attractive to a number of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds. In fact, the Xerces Society lists anise hyssop as having special value to bumblebees as well as honeybees. This species is perfect for pollinator gardens, herb gardens, and cottage-style plantings.