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. It is tolerant of deer and drought, and is visited by many pollinators.
Description
This species grows from 2–4 feet (61–122 centimetres) tall and 1 ft (30 cm) wide, in a clump-like, upright shape, with flowers appearing in showy verticillasters, or false whorls, and occasionally branching at the apex.[2] The leaves have an oval, toothed shape with a white tint underneath. The plant blooms in June to September with bright lavender flowers that become more colorful near the tip.[3][4] One plant may produce upwards of 90,000 individual flowers.[5] The root system produces a taproot.[2]
Similar species
A. foeniculum can be confused with A. rugosa[6] and A. scrophulariifolia.[7] Anise hyssop is in the same family as hyssop (the mint family Lamiaceae), but they are not closely related. Hyssop (Hyssopus) is a genus of about 10–12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia.[1]
A bumblebee feeding on the white flowers of an anise hyssop plant
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.[11] A horticultural writer has claimed that the many flowers of the plant provide forage for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.[12]
Uses
Anise hyssop was used medicinally by Native Americans for cough, fevers, wounds, and diarrhea.[citation needed] The soft, anise-scented leaves[4] are used as a seasoning, as a tea, in potpourri, and can be crumbled in salad.
References
^ abcUSDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Agastache foeniculum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team.
^ abHilty, John (2020). "Anise hyssop". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
^Arthur O. Tucker and Thomas DeBaggio, The Encyclopedia of Herbs: A Comprehensive Reference to Herbs of Flavor and Fragrance. Timber Press, 2009. p. 127.ISBN9781604691344
^"Agastache foeniculum". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
^Ayers, George (July 1994). "The Genus Agastache as Bee Forage: An Analysis of Reader Returns". American Bee Journal (134): 480–482.
