Bunches of coneflower and anise hyssop dry upside-down. Herbs Greens Edible Flowers. Overwinter anise hyssop by covering plants with a layer of much during cold winters. Anise Hyssop will become bushy as it matures. The plant known as Anise Hyssop is also known by its scientific name, Agastache foeniculum.The plant’s genus name comes from the Greek “agan” which means “very much,” and the Greek word “stachys,” which means an “ear of wheat.” The name references the flower spikes that Anise Hyssop has. Humans do enjoy eating the plant, so feel free to use the flowers in salads and the young leaves as garnishes. With your shovel, mix in 1 part compost to 3 parts dirt. Its leaves and seed have a sweet, licorice-like flavor. Plant the anise hyssop in fall, as with most perennials, to give its roots a chance to settle and grow before the heat of the summer. Water regularly the first season. Anise hyssop will tolerate low water after the first year, but always prefers average water from rain or irrigation. If you’re harvesting the leaves to dry for winter use or in medicines, then pick several sprigs at a time. Investigating . Bushy, perennial herb that produces anise-flavored leaves and blue-purple flowers, both of which are edible. Georgia Gold Medal Perennial Winners: 2004 Perennial Winner Anise Hyssop Hybrids, Agastache spp. How to Harvest Hyssop. The hybrids with red blossoms are a magnet for hummingbirds. You can harvest hyssop several times a season. For flowers, harvest anise hyssop flowers when ⅔ of the flowers have opened on the stalk. Gather flowers in the morning when the dew has dried. When to harvest: Harvest hyssop leaves as needed before the plant flowers. Find two of the largest leaves on the stem and locate the two small leaf nodes just above the larger set. Fall-planted seed will remain dormant and then sprout in the spring; this is the way mature plants sow their seed, after all. Anise hyssop is a popular choice as part of a low-water, mixed border. When to harvest: Harvest anise hyssop leaves using a snip or scissors as needed but before flower buds open. It will readily accept pruning, becoming bushier when clipped as new growth arises from the leaf axils. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is one of our favorite herbacous plants in the garden. How to Harvest Anise Hyssop. Get your anise hyssop off to a good start by choosing a sunny planting site. Mason jars … Dry hyssop by hanging upside down in a cool place with good air circulation. When to reap: Harvest anise hyssop leaves utilizing a clip or scissors varying yet before bloom buds open. West is also working toward a certificate in horticulture. Scoop out enough room for the anise hyssop to sit firmly in the soil and have the top of its root ball at ground level. Pests and diseases: Anise hyssop is usually pest and disease-free. In a well-fertilized garden anise hyssop can grow to four or five feet tall, but it generally is about three feet tall in nature. The plant is 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide, with blue-violet flower spikes adding another foot in height. Press the damp soil firmly around the plant. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. How to harvest: Snip off portions of the stalk when harvesting a small number of leaves for immediate use then strip the leaves from the stem. Cut at the same point as you would the leaves, just above the nodes. To dry leaves, flowers, and stems for culinary purposes, as well as floral arranging, harvest stems when most of the flowers have opened, but before they are full-blown and ready to drop. Bunches of coneflower and anise hyssop dry upside-down. Hybrid varieties were created and took the horticultural world by storm in 2004. Provide additional winter protection to your plant and do not disturb the leafless stems on the plant until spring. Dig a hole with your shovel, deeper and wider than the root ball of the anise hyssop. It’s a member of the parsley family. Anise hyssop is a perennial herb (in zones 4-9) from the mint family and a favorite plant of bees and gardeners alike. Add compost to the dirt to create the well-drained soil that anise hyssop needs. To dry leaves, flowers, and stems for culinary purposes, as well as floral arranging, harvest stems when most of the flowers have opened, but before they are full-blown and ready to drop. Anise hyssop flowers attract bees and butterflies. Overwinter anise hyssop by covering plants with a layer of much during cold winters. Cut at the same point as you would the leaves, just above the nodes. In a mild winter climate, like USDA zone 9, use your pruners and cut the woody growth back in late fall for a more compact plant shape the following year. Cut back the stems with your pruners to 6 inches above the ground in early spring. Analyze your climate to determine when to trim back the stems of your anise hyssop. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Flowers bloom in late spring and dead-heading (removing spent flowers) encourages repeat blooming through the end of summer. Cut just above the two small nodes, about halfway down the plant. Anise plants get mature & ready to harvest after 120 days of the transplants, anise hyssop is an early blooming to get mature in 60 days after being transplanted, from early summers to first frost. Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a native of North America. Delay pruning of your anise hyssop if you live in a cold climate. Pack the soil around the root ball. Vermin and sicknesses: Anise hyssop is normally nuisance and infection free. When she's not tending her drought-tolerant, deer-resistant garden, she writes about gardening for online magazines and her local newspaper. When they feel crunchy, you can remove the leaves from the stem and store them in an airtight container. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Water the anise hyssop well with your hose. Anise plants have capability to thrive well in full sunlight with abundant water needs whereas anise hyssop does well in full sun & partial-shades, and is well tolerant to droughts. The strong anise flavor of its leaves makes it deer-resistant. Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a native of North America. The best time to cut them is after the morning dew evaporates, and before the day gets hot. Anise hyssop is a popular choice as part of a low-water, mixed border. Anise Hyssop is an excellent addition to your garden as it is bee-friendly and edible. Leaves have their best flavor just before the plant flowers. It will tolerate part-shade but thrives in the sun. Anise Hyssop Facts. Caroline West is a garden writer specializing in organic gardening, bulbs, and landscape design. Hybrid varieties were created and took the horticultural world by storm in 2004. Put the dirt from the hole on a piece of burlap or in a wheelbarrow. The best time to cut them is after the morning dew evaporates, and before the day gets hot. Press the damp soil firmly around the plant. Humans do enjoy eating the plant, so feel free to use the flowers in salads and the young leaves as garnishes. Anise plants get mature & ready to harvest after 120 days of the transplants, anise hyssop is an early blooming to get mature in 60 days after being transplanted, from early summers to first frost. For flowers, harvest anise hyssop flowers when ⅔ of the flowers have opened on the stalk. Anise will grow in partial shade as well as full sun. Subscribe to the Farmshelf newsletter! The most effective method to . Pruning anise hyssop during the growing season will produce two or three harvests. ANISE HYSSOP. Cut whole branches for drying leaves or flowers. Email Address. Add a 2-inch layer of mulch over the planting hole. Find out what makes it the next big thing, how you can grow it, and what to do with this delightful and versatile herb. Anise hyssop is easily grown from seed, either by starting indoors as you would tomatoes or by sprinkling outside in spring or fall. HARVEST ANISE HYSSOP. Cut the stems in the morning after the dew has dried. Attracts bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds Germination: 10-14 days Days to Harvest: 60 Companion Planting with ANISE Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a native of North America. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, isolted icicles in the garden image by dana nicolescu from, University of California: Marin Master Gardener Plant Guide--Agastache 'Blue Fortune'. The plant known as Anise Hyssop is also known by its scientific name, Agastache foeniculum.The plant’s genus name comes from the Greek “agan” which means “very much,” and the Greek word “stachys,” which means an “ear of wheat.” The name references the flower spikes that Anise Hyssop has. The International Herb Association recently named Anise Hyssop as the 2019 herb of the year. Troubleshooting Anise Hyssop. Refill the hole with the soil mixture. Add compost to the dirt to create the well-drained soil that anise hyssop needs. Anise Hyssop Facts. It is best to plant in every other plant site to avoid overcrowding and excess debris. University of California, Davis: Master Gardener Articles; Sold on Sages Hooked on Hyssops. All Rights Reserved. Anise plants have capability to thrive well in full sunlight with abundant water needs whereas anise hyssop does well in full sun & partial-shades, and is well tolerant to droughts.