How to Grow Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Anise Hyssop is a hardy native herb prized for its licorice-like flavor and ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Gardeners grow this drought-tolerant perennial in gardens or containers to enjoy fresh culinary leaves while supporting local wildlife with its fragrant blooms.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Anise Hyssop: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 3 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Start seeds indoors three weeks before your last frost date if you wish to transplant, or sow directly outdoors during that same pre-frost window.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0 for optimal growth. Since Anise Hyssop is a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost date or start indoors during the same window. Press seeds lightly into the soil surface at a depth of roughly 1/4 inch, as they require light to germinate effectively within 14 to 21 days.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and prevent root competition. While this species generally requires no support or trellising due to its upright habit, apply a layer of mulch around the base once established to retain moisture. Water moderately during dry spells, noting that the plant becomes drought tolerant after its first season.
This resilient herb is mostly pest-free, though you may occasionally see aphids; simply rinse them off with water if they appear. Avoid root rot by ensuring soil drains well and does not stay soggy. Harvest stems for culinary use about 75 to 80 days after sowing when the plants are mature enough to provide abundant licorice-scented leaves.
When to Plant Anise Hyssop
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
Companion Plants for Anise Hyssop
✓ Good companions
Both attract beneficial insects and pollinators, creating a strong beneficial ecosystem
Attracts parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms and aphids on brassica crops
Anise hyssop attracts pollinators essential for cucumber fruit production
Complementary blooming periods extend pollinator habitat and both are native perennials
Similar growing conditions and both attract beneficial insects while repelling harmful pests
Provides pest control through beneficial insect attraction while peppers don't compete for nutrients
Draws beneficial insects and pollinators while helping to deter squash bugs
Anise hyssop attracts beneficial insects that control tomato hornworms and other pests
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone which inhibits growth and can kill anise hyssop plants
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most herbs including anise hyssop
Competes aggressively for water and nutrients, potentially stunting anise hyssop growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
