Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
[ag-ah-STAK-ee foe-NIK-yew-lum]

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Lamiaceae Family
 
Buy Anise Hyssop
Size Notes Price Availability
38 FLAT Field $80.69 Likely available
1/24 - 4/4

Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) is a prairie native prized for its anise-scented foliage and long, lavender-blue flower spikes that draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all summer long.
Anise Hyssop is an upright, clump-forming perennial in the mint family, native to the prairies and open woodlands of the Upper Midwest and Great Plains — a regional native just north and west of Illinois, and a staple of Midwest prairie restorations. Square stems carry aromatic, gray-green leaves with soft, whitish undersides; crushing a leaf releases an unmistakable anise or licorice scent. From June through September it produces dense, cylindrical spikes of small lavender-to-blue-purple flowers set off by blue-violet calyxes, making it one of the most reliable pollinator magnets for a sunny bed. It self-seeds readily and tends to behave as a short-lived perennial, persisting in a planting through volunteer seedlings rather than a single long-lived crown.

Pros

  • Outstanding pollinator plant for native bees, bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbirds, and butterflies
  • Anise-scented foliage is edible — used fresh or dried in tea, salads, and jellies
  • Long summer bloom period (June-September)
  • Deer-resistant aromatic foliage

Cons

  • Short-lived as an individual plant; relies on self-seeding to persist
  • Needs well-drained soil — prone to crown/root rot if kept too wet
  • Self-sows readily and can spread beyond where it's wanted
Why Like A true pollinator powerhouse: long- and short-tongued native bees, many bumblebee species, honeybees, hummingbirds, and butterflies all visit its nectar-rich spikes heavily. Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Cheyenne, and Ojibwa used the anise-scented leaves medicinally and in tea. Seed heads persist into fall and winter, feeding songbirds. Its aromatic foliage makes it one of the more deer-resistant native wildflowers for a sunny bed or meadow planting.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 48 inches tall. 18 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edible Foliage, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, Fragrant, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Herb, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Squirrel Resistant, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period June to September
Flower Color Lavender to Blue-Purple
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/08
2023 : 04/13 - 09/10


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!