Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Anise Hyssop, also known as Blue Giant Hyssop, is a beautiful, hardy perennial native to North America. Its fragrant leaves and striking spikes of lavender-purple flowers have a delightful sweet, anise-like flavour and aroma. Growing approximately 60–120 cm tall, it flowers abundantly from midsummer into autumn, returning year after year.

One of the best plants for attracting pollinators, Anise Hyssop is particularly loved by bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Its long flowering season provides an abundant source of nectar, making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens, food forests, herb gardens and perennial beds.

Both the leaves and flowers are edible and can be enjoyed fresh in salads, used to flavour desserts, or dried to make a wonderfully aromatic herbal tea. Anise Hyssop also has a history of traditional medicinal use among Indigenous peoples of North America, particularly for respiratory and digestive complaints.

Easy to grow and remarkably resilient, Anise Hyssop thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates drought, requires little maintenance and readily self-seeds when conditions are favourable.

Sow seeds outdoors in autumn or winter, or start indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Cold stratification for approximately 30 days can improve germination, although it is not always necessary. Surface sow or cover very lightly, as the tiny seeds benefit from light for germination. Keep moist until seedlings are established.

At least 25 seeds per packet.