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Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Very aromatic with a sweet, licorice-mint flavor. Vigorous plants produce abundant blooms, attracting bees and other pollinators. Anise hyssop is also known as giant hyssop, blue giant hyssop, fennel giant hyssop, and fragrant giant hyssop.Edible Flowers: Leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried to flavor drinks, salads, soups, pasta, and desserts.

Harvest

75-80d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-5 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Anise Hyssop in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 herb →

Zone Map

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Anise Hyssop · Zones 4–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained soil, tolerates poor soils

pH6.0-8.0

WaterLow to moderate, drought tolerant once established

SeasonTender Perennial

FlavorSweet licorice-anise flavor with minty undertones

ColorGreen serrated leaves with purple-blue flower spikes

SizeLeaves 2-3 inches long, flower spikes 3-6 inches

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December

Complete Growing Guide

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: Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division, Seed. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Fruit dries and splits to reveal seeds

Type: Capsule.

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.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh anise hyssop leaves stay crisp for 3-5 days when stored like cut herbs—stems in water, covered with a plastic bag, and refrigerated. For immediate use, simply rinse and pat dry; the leaves bruise easily so handle gently.

Drying is the most effective preservation method and actually concentrates the anise flavor. Hang small bundles in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Properly dried leaves retain their potency for 12-18 months when stored in airtight containers. The flowers dry beautifully and make excellent herbal teas.

Fresh leaves also freeze well when chopped and frozen in ice cube trays with water or oil—perfect for adding to winter teas or soups. Avoid traditional freezing methods as the leaves become mushy upon thawing, though the flavor remains intact for cooked applications.

History & Origin

Anise Hyssop is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: North America

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Songbirds
+Edible: 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.
+Low maintenance

Companion Plants

Anise hyssop draws heavy pollinator traffic — bees, predatory wasps, and hoverflies — and that's the real argument for planting it near tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or squash. Those insects do double duty: better fruit set on your crops, and natural pressure on aphid and whitefly populations. NC State Extension's IPM guidance backs this up directly: interplanting breaks up blocks of pest-preferred crops and slows early damage spread. Skip fennel as a neighbor — it produces allelopathic root exudates that stunt many surrounding plants — and give black walnut a wide berth, since juglone toxicity in the soil will knock out anise hyssop along with most other herbs.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Anise hyssop attracts beneficial insects that control tomato hornworms and other pests

Peppers

Provides pest control through beneficial insect attraction while peppers don't compete for nutrients

Brassicas

Attracts parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms and aphids on brassica crops

Cucumbers

Anise hyssop attracts pollinators essential for cucumber fruit production

Squash

Draws beneficial insects and pollinators while helping to deter squash bugs

Lavender

Similar growing conditions and both attract beneficial insects while repelling harmful pests

Echinacea

Complementary blooming periods extend pollinator habitat and both are native perennials

Bee Balm

Both attract beneficial insects and pollinators, creating a strong beneficial ecosystem

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which inhibits growth and can kill anise hyssop plants

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most herbs including anise hyssop

Sage

Competes aggressively for water and nutrients, potentially stunting anise hyssop growth

Nutrition Facts

Calories

23kcal(1%)

Protein

3.15g(6%)

Fiber

1.6g(6%)

Carbs

2.65g(1%)

Fat

0.64g(1%)

Vitamin C

18mg(20%)

Vitamin A

264mcg(29%)

Vitamin K

415mcg(346%)

Iron

3.17mg(18%)

Calcium

177mg(14%)

Potassium

295mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Excellent disease resistance, very hardy native plant

Common Pests

Generally pest-free, occasionally aphids

Diseases

Root rot in poorly drained soils, otherwise disease-free

Troubleshooting Anise Hyssop

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Stems turning brown and mushy at the soil line, plant wilting despite moist soil

Likely Causes

Root rot — typically Pythium or Phytophthora spp. — triggered by waterlogged or poorly drained soil
Planting in heavy clay without amendment

What to Do

1.Pull the plant and inspect the roots; if they're brown and slimy all the way up, the plant is done — remove it and don't replant anise hyssop in that spot
2.Improve drainage before replanting: work in 2-3 inches of coarse grit or compost, or build up a raised bed
3.Water only when the top inch of soil is dry — this plant tolerates drought far better than wet feet

Soft, sticky clusters of small insects on new growth or flower buds, tips curling

Likely Causes

Aphid colony buildup — usually green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) or a related generalist species
Overfertilizing with nitrogen, which produces the lush soft growth aphids prefer

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a strong spray of water from a hose — repeat every 2-3 days for a week
2.If the infestation is heavy, apply insecticidal soap directly to the clusters; NC State Extension confirms this is appropriate for herbs where traditional pesticides aren't labeled
3.Cut back on nitrogen fertilizer; anise hyssop is a light feeder and overfed plants draw more aphid pressure

Seedlings not germinating after 21 days, bare patches in the flat

Likely Causes

Soil temperature too low — anise hyssop seed needs consistent 65-70°F to germinate
Seed sown too deep (more than 1/8 inch)

What to Do

1.Use a heat mat set to 70°F and verify with a thermometer — room temperature is not a reliable proxy
2.Resow at the surface or barely covered with fine vermiculite; light aids germination
3.Mark the flat with the sow date; the full 14-21 day window is normal and plants often catch up once temperatures stabilize

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does anise hyssop take to grow from seed?▼

Anise hyssop takes 10-14 days to germinate and 70-80 days from seeding to first harvest. When started indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost, plants will be ready for their first leaf harvest by early summer and flower harvest by mid-summer. Direct-sown seeds planted in spring will be harvestable by late summer.

Can you grow anise hyssop in containers?▼

Yes, anise hyssop grows excellently in containers at least 12 inches deep and 14 inches wide. Use a well-draining potting mix and place containers in full sun to partial shade. Container plants may need weekly watering during hot weather, but avoid overwatering as this native prefers slightly dry conditions once established.

Is anise hyssop good for beginners?▼

Anise hyssop is excellent for beginners because it's virtually maintenance-free once established. It tolerates poor soil, drought, and neglect while being naturally pest and disease resistant. The biggest mistake new gardeners make is overwatering or over-fertilizing—this prairie native actually prefers benign neglect to fussy care.

What does anise hyssop taste like?▼

Anise hyssop has a sweet licorice-anise flavor with refreshing minty undertones, similar to fennel but milder and more complex. The leaves are less intense than star anise, making them perfect for teas and desserts. Young leaves have the strongest flavor, while flowers are sweeter and make beautiful, edible garnishes.

When should I plant anise hyssop seeds?▼

Plant anise hyssop seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow outdoors in spring after soil warms to 65°F. You can also direct sow in fall for spring germination. Seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover them with soil or seed starting mix.

Will anise hyssop come back every year?▼

Anise hyssop is a short-lived perennial that typically returns for 3-4 years in zones 4-8, but it self-seeds prolifically so new plants naturally replace older ones. In colder zones it may act as an annual, while in warmer zones it can behave more like a shrubby perennial. Allowing some flowers to go to seed ensures continuous plants.