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colorful fall leaves of rhus aromatica
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Lo’ (Fragrant Sumac) Photo © Mary Free
You are here: Home / Plants / Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic / Perennials / Agastache foeniculum (Anise or Blue Giant Hyssop)

Agastache foeniculum (Anise or Blue Giant Hyssop)

Agastache foeniculum (Blue Giant or Anise Hyssop) new leaves in March.
Agastache foeniculum in bloom in June.
Terminal spikes of small, dense verticllasters of Agastache foeniculum
Bees flock to the flowers of Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop), a native of the upper Midwest. The white flowers of Southern native Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea) are abloom in the background at the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden. Photo © 2019 Mary Free.
Agastache foeniculum (giant hyssop) with eastern tiger and zebra swallowtails in July.
The pollinator corner in July, with sterile hybrid Agastache 'Blue Fortune' (Mt. Cuba Center trial found it as attractive to pollinators as the straight species).
Nutlets in calyxes of Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop)
American goldfinch on Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop)
Agastache foeniculum (Blue Giant or Anise Hyssop) seed head in March.

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Agastache foeniculum Tried and True Anise or Blue Giant Hyssop Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Anise Hyssop inhabits widely scattered areas in the northern United States and Canada. Though indigenous in the Mid-Atlantic* to only a few counties in Pennsylvania, it grows easily throughout in well-drained soil. Pretty purplish flower spikes, which attract pollinators all summer, add a vertical layer to the garden; the leaves and seeds add anise flavor to teas, salads, and baked goods. Perennial Clump, Flowers w/ Pollinators,** Seedheads Height: 2–5 feet Spread: 11⁄2–3 feet Bloom Color: Pale blue, lavender, purple Characteristics Clump-forming perennial with erect, square stems Aromatic, opposite, broadly lanceolate, toothed, leaves–dull green above and canescent below Bilabiate flowers with exserted stamens & calyxes ranging from green tinged with lavender to deep purple borne on terminal spikes of verticillasters June to September; flowers replaced by nutlets Spreads by rhizomes; self seeds in best conditions Attributes Tolerates shallow rocky soil, dry soil, drought; intolerant of water-logged, clay soil, esp. in winter No serious problems but watch for root rot (in soggy soil), rust, powdery mildew, leaf spot; anise scent deters some leaf-chewers; deer rarely damage Use in fresh or dried bouquets; edible flowers, leaves Attracts myriad bees, syrphid flies, butterflies, moths, hummers to its nectar; birds to its seeds; larval host to ~3 lepidopterans incl. Summer Azure Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements: Well-drained Excellent Replacement for Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Water Requirements: Dry, Moist Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife Lythrum virgatum - European Wand Loosestrife Performs best in sun; deadhead spent flowers to extend bloom time; divide spring or fall Use in butterfly/pollinator, cottage, cutting, herb, or raised bed gardens and in borders or meadows *In Delaware, it is found as rare escapes to disturbed ground. It is not native to NoVA. **Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, common eastern bumble bee, and halictid (sweat) bee. Hardiness: USDA Zones 4a–8b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Mary Free (clump, bees), Alyssa Ford Morel (butterfly), and Elaine Mills (seedheads), private gardens and Glencarlyn Garden

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic 

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Agastache foeniculum (Anise or Blue Giant Hyssop)

Anise Hyssop inhabits widely scattered areas in the northern United States and Canada. Though indigenous in the Mid-Atlantic* to only a few counties in Pennsylvania, it grows easily throughout in well-drained soil. Pretty purplish flower spikes, which attract pollinators all summer, add a vertical layer to the garden; the leaves and seeds add anise flavor to teas, salads, and baked goods.

*In Delaware, it is found as rare escapes to disturbed ground. It is not native to NoVA.

Video © Mary Free [Note: If you see a black screen, click on the Settings Menu–first icon, bottom righthand corner–to choose the video quality.]

Bumble, digger, honey, leaf-cutting, masked, and sweat bees pollinate Agastache. Some bees as tiny as 0.2 inches are but a blur to the naked eye. This video captures tiny sweat bees flitting about as female common eastern bumble bees, carrying pollen in corbiculae (aka pollen baskets) on the their hind legs, search for nectar on the flower spikes. Another sweat bee clings to stamens to gather pollen, which she transports on scopae (tufts of electrostatic hairs) on her hind legs. Video © Mary Free