Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

18 years ago

This is my 1st year for anise hyssop.

1. Will it flower abundantly the 1st year when direct seeded in May?

2. Does one seed produce one stem, or is is a 'cut and come again'?

Thanks

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Comments (4)

bluestarrgallery
18 years ago
Hello,

I have one anise hyssop in my herb garden. It was planted from a 3 inch pot early last spring and it branched out and produced more than one bloom and bloomed several times during the summer. I cut the flowers back after it bloomed. I do have a long growing season here and it is planted on a south facing hillside.

Linda
flowerfarmer
18 years ago
Agastache 'Blue Fortune' is the hardiest (zones 4-9) Anise Hyssop most commonly grown as a perennial for cutflower production here in the Upper Midwest. This plant is a hybrid of A. rugosa and A. foeniculum. Bareroot plants are
available from Walters Gardens in Michigan.

But, you're referring to the Anise Hyssop (A. foeniculum) seed in the Johnny's Seed catalog (or a similar source), it is considered a "tender perennial." Johnny's says they are hardy in zones 6-9. They aren't hardy here. We would treat this one as an annual; and, we would start the seed in the greenhouse the first week in April (just like salvia farinacea).
It's now April!!Wow. What happened to March? Anyway, we would then plant good size plugs (deep 72s) out in the field mid-May. They produce many, many stems for cutting; and, we'd start harvesting mid July. If you're direct-seeding,
I would guess harvest may be set back a couple weeks.

FWIW -- The stems also require special post-harvest handling with our humidity here in the Midwest.

Trish
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Anise Hyssop is a butterfly attracting plant with anise scented leaves and lavender flowers spikes. Plant it close to a border's edge so it's leaves can give off their scent when brushed as you walk by. Seed collection is easy. The plant makes spike florettes are where they have faded will develop the seed heads, they are gathered closely and mimic the flower spike. Intitally they are light green and then fade to brown when the seeds are mature. Gather the spikes by snapping them off the plant and allow them to dry on an open plate for a few days. Tap the seed spikes to release dozens and dozens of tiny dark-brown to black round seeds. Any excess chaff may be gently puffed away. The seed spikes themselves are attractive and scented and a good addition to a dry bouquet. To use for a bouquet simply cut the plant stem at an appropriate length and hang upside-down in a dry room for a few weeks. When it is fully dry the stem may be trimmed to vase length.
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Anise Hyssop ~ Agastache foeniculum
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Image by: wintersown Anise Hyssop is a butterfly attracting plant with anise scented leaves and lavender flowers spikes. Plant it close to a border's edge so its leaves can give off their scent when brushed as you walk by. Seed collection is easy, where the flowers have faded will develop the seed heads, they are gathered closely and mimic the shape of the flower spike. Intitally the seed spikes are light lime green and then fade to brown when the seeds are mature. Gather the spikes by snapping them off the plant and allow them to dry on an open plate for a few days. Tap the seed spikes to release dozens and dozens of tiny tan to dark-brown, slightly oblongated seeds. Any excess chaff may be gently puffed away. The seed spikes themselves are attractive and scented and a good addition to a dry bouquet. To use for a bouquet simply cut the plant stem at an appropriate length and hang upside-down in a dry room for a few weeks. When it is fully dry the stem may be trimmed to vase length.
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
18 years ago
My agastache foeniculum bloomed first year from seed for me two years ago. While it is not a hardy perennial, if you leave some seed heads it will indeed reseed. (Or just save some seed to sow again)

As a matter of fact, I did not grow it specifically as a cut flower the first year, and thought the dried seed heads looked nice, so I left them. Last spring I was overwhelmed by the amount of agastache seedlings everywhere. Last season I was much more careful to dead head whatever I didn't cut, and to manage the seeds, as opposed to letting them fall where they may.

:)
Dee
flutterbug
17 years ago
I am suprised to see that your agastache foeniculum is not hardy in Zones 5 and 6 because all the hardiness info for it says it should be. It is a native plant and its native range includes most of the northern states. I have seen it growing in my neighbors yard and it returns each year. Maybe it is not hardy because of your garden conditions, it naturally grows in well-drained soil so possibly it was in too moist of a soil? I know my neighborhoods soil is quite sandy, and very well-drained. Just thought I'd add my thoughts so others in Zones 5 aren't deterred from this plant after reading these posts.

Here is a link that might be useful: Distribution Map

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Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Comments (4)

bluestarrgallery

flowerfarmer

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diggerdee zone 6 CT

flutterbug

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