Anise Hyssop
Agastache
Also called giant hyssop
Anise Hyssop blooms from July through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Anise Hyssop
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 3 ft tall and 1.6 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Anise Hyssop
Plant Anise Hyssop in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from July to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Good to know about Anise Hyssop
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Sharp drainage fixes two problems at once: the same wet, low-oxygen soil that rots the crown is also what kills the plant over winter. per NC State and Wisconsin
Cold-hardiness depends on type
The prairie species is hardy to about zone 3 or 4; hybrids and hummingbird mints center on zones 5 to 9 or 10. Identify yours first. per NC State
Rabbit resistance is disputed
NC State lists it as rabbit-resistant, but Wisconsin says rabbits will eat it. Deer always leave it alone; protect young plants where rabbit pressure is high. per NC State and Wisconsin
Top pollinator plant
A magnet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and a historic honey plant. The straight species and sterile 'Blue Fortune' feed pollinators well; 'Golden Jubilee' is ignored by bees. per NC State and Xerces
Self-sows but stays put
The straight species self-sows freely but spreads only slowly by short rhizomes, so it never runs like true mint. Sterile 'Blue Fortune' barely self-seeds at all. per NC State
Scent that repels deer
The anise-scented oils in the leaves do double duty: they flavor teas, jellies and seasonings, and they make the foliage unpalatable to browsing deer. per NC State and Clemson
Powdery mildew in shade
In humid, shady or crowded spots it gets powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust, usually cosmetic. Full sun and generous spacing for air flow prevent most of it. per NC State and Clemson
What pairs well with Anise Hyssop
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sea Thrift
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Creeping Sedum
Shares full sun and low water; opens in early summer and overlaps into this one's season; both are strong pollinator plants; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Lavender
Shares full sun and low water; opens in early summer and overlaps into this one's season; both are strong pollinator plants; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Giant Allium
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; echoes the purple.
Thyme
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; both are strong pollinator plants; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Mock Orange
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; taller at 8.2 ft, for the layer behind it.
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