Giant Hyssop | Art of Connection

Giant Hyssop

Native Range: More than a dozen species of giant hyssop are found in North America. Widely distributed across the U.S. and Canada, locally native species can be found in almost all regions of the U.S. except the southeastern region of Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. Many cultivars exist, though few are as attractive to pollinators as the straight species.

Agastache foeniculum (syn. Agastache anethiodora (Nutt.) Britton), commonly called anise hyssop, blue giant hyssop, Fragrant giant hyssop, or the lavender giant hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family, (Lamiaceae). This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America, notably the Great Plains and other prairies.[1][2] It is tolerant of deer and drought, and also attracts hummingbirds, butterflies,[3] bumblebees, honey bees, carpenter bees, and night flying moths.[4]

Anise hyssop is considered one of the premier plants for feeding pollinators. The 1969 edition of the Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening claims that one acre planted in anise hyssop can support 100 honeybee hives, the flowers blooming for a very long season, often from June until frost and during the time it blooms, one can see bees on the flowers from the morning until dusk.[8] A horticultural writer has claimed that the many flowers of the plant provide forage for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.[9]

Anise hyssop was used medicinally by Native Americans for cough, fevers, wounds, diarrhea[citation needed]. The soft, anise-scented leaves[6] are used as a seasoning, as a tea, in potpourri, and can be crumbled in salad. The purple flower spike is favored by bees who make a light fragrant honey from the nectar.[10]

Even though this is not the true hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) it does look similar to it but lacks the minty fragrance. The genus name is derived from its many flower spikes and the species name refers to its similarity to the catnip genus Nepeta (Fernald 1950). It is available in the horticulture trade and is used in perennial gardens, especially to attract bees and butterflies.

In New York this species has been found in a diversity of habitats, including weedy or early-successional areas such as roadsides, railroads, and thickets. Many of the known sites for Yellow Giant-hyssop are on limestone-derived soils, and support plant species associated with rich sites. The list of associated plants at these sites includes many calciphiles as well as common weeds of rich woods (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007). Upland in more or less open deciduous woods (oak, beech-maple); also meadows, fencerows, thickets, and lowland woods (Voss 1996). Open woods (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Rich thickets and borders of woods (Fernald 1970).

Yellow Giant-hyssop is a tall (up to 2 meters) herb with a smooth, square stem with winged angles and coarsely toothed, ovate leaves. The leaves are pubescent underneath. The pale, greenish yellow flowers occur in cylindrical spikes up to eight inches long at the end of the stem. These spikes, dense with flowers, are held upright like ears of corn; the genus name is derived from \"stachys\", meaning an ear or corn or wheat. The individual flowers are about .75 cm long, and have five-lobes, with the stamens protruding past the ends of the petals.

Sowing: Direct sow purple giant hyssop seeds in the fall, pressing the seeds into the surface of the soil. For spring planting, mix the Agastache Scrophulariaefolia seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 60 days before planting on the surface of the soil. To start indoors, plant on the surface of a flat with bottom heat of 70 degrees F and consistent moisture. Germination should take place within 6-10 days. As soon as the seedlings are big enough to handle and there is no chance of frost, they can be transplanted.

Seed Saving: When the flower spikes begin to dry and turn brown, remove them and spread them out to dry; thresh them to remove the seed. Shaking the entire plant's seed heads into a container is also effective, but the process should be repeated daily until all the Agastache Scrophulariaefolia seed has matured. Store purple giant hyssop seeds in a cool, dry place.

Like other hyssops, Purple Giant Hyssop seed requires a period of cold moist stratification of sixty days and exposure to sunlight to germinate. But if you Winter Sow the seed and plant it on top of the soil, you should have no trouble achieving a high germination rate.

Much more tolerant of cold climates than most hyssops, this plant is hardy all the way through zone 4, and may be sown indoors for transplant in short-season areas. Of course, like most native plants, it direct sows easily. Best in hot, dry spots, it is adaptable and carefreea lovely choice for a wildflower garden, naturalized meadowland, or other informal setting, but elegant enough for the bed or border, too.

This year's unseasonably warm autumn weather inspired me to feature a plant today that typically blooms in the summer. Several colonies of Purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia) were in peak flower six to eight weeks ago along the Meredith bike trail between Gray's Lake and downtown Des Moines.

Purple giant hyssop is a close relative of blue giant hyssop, also known as anise hyssop, which Bleeding Heartland featured last year. According to the Minnesota Wildflowers website, purple giant hyssop has a green calyx (the \"cup-like whorl of sepals\" that holds the flower) and green on the underside of leaves, while blue giant hyssop has a blue-violet calyx and a \"whitish\" color on the underside of its leaves. Iowa naturalist and photographer Leland Searles gave me an easier tip: crush a leaf. If it smells like licorice, you've found anise hyssop.

Lavender giant-hyssop is native to most of northern North America, but its occurrences in New England are considered introduced. It is popular as an ornamental in gardens, as well as having traditional uses in medicine and as an herbal tea. When crushed, its leaves give off a distinct odor of anise.

I'm curious as to why you describe anise hyssop as:\"This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10c[200]\".Perhaps this is one of the \"silly mistakes\" you note for Ref 200:1. This plant is fully hardy in my Zone 3 garden in Edmonton, Alberta.2. It is considered a native species in Alberta and \"The Flora of Alberta\"(2nd Ed, EH Moss) has a map showing its distribution in Zone 1-2 as well.3. The USDA Plants Database shows this species extending across Canada& into the Northwest Territories - most of this area gets well below -10.4. The most authoritative text on herbs in Canada(Small, E. Culinary Herbs NRC-CNRC Press)also cites Huxley (1992), but also notes that A. foeniculum has survived temperatures below -25 C.Anise hyssop freely self-seeds and flowers the first year here,so it may be getting by as an annual in the more northern sites. At least two plants have survived in the same spots in my garden since 2006; however, so it is at least also capable of being a short-lived perennial here. Cold tolerance may also vary by variety,but I think you are giving anise hyssop short shrift on its cold tolerance.

Giant hyssop is a perennial, but is most often grown as a half-hardy annual. The edible foliage of flowers have a mint/anise flavour which combined with a beautiful colouring, make it a popular garden plant and edible flower.

Giant hyssop makes a lovely addition to a cottage garden planting scheme. It makes an attractive addition to borders or wildlife gardens, being highly attractive to pollinating insects (on the RHS Perfect for Pollinators list). Its minty fragrance adds a lovely scent to the garden, so try planting where you will benefit from its fragrance.

This 4-foot-tall and 18-ich-wide, bushy perennial, very similar to the more common anise hyssop ( Agastache foeniculum ) has strongly mint-and-licorice-scented leaves and short spikes of lavender-blue flowers from midsummer to early fall. Unlike most agastaches, both of these species can tolerate more moisture and humity, making them highly suited to climates outside the arid west.

Mexican giant hyssop is native to New Mexico and is also called anise hyssop. It is a member of the mint family with light purple, upright flower spirals of small flowers and upright stems with light to dark green leaves that are downy underneath. The leaves have an anise smell, hence the name anise plant. It prefers a sunny, sheltered spot with well-draining soil. It doesn't like wet feet. This plant can self-seed so is suitable for naturalized gardens and is loved by pollinators. Always consult a qualified herbal practitioner before using this plant medicinally or a qualified aromatherapist if using its essential oil, especially if pregnant.

The yellow giant hyssop is slightly larger than it's cousin the anise hyssop. Displays pale, yellowish-white blooms throughout the summer. Pollinators, in particular bumblebees, enjoy foraging on the tall, slender blooms. Has a fast growth rate and is adaptable to a variety of conditions. 59ce067264

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