Blue giant hyssop is a strongly aromatic, drought tolerant, erect perennial native throughout the northern United States and Canada. This member of the mint family has downy, medium green, licorice-scented leaves that appear on long stems topped with spikes of blue-purple flowers that appear from from midsummer to autumn. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies, this plant will continue blooming if deadheaded. The fuzzy leaves that release the licorice aroma tend to dissuade browsing damage from deer.
Blue giant hyssop is tolerant of poor soils and an excellent choice for sunny mixed borders and informal wildflower gardens. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Although the plant is ornamental, it has a number of practical uses. Add the leaves to salads or meat dishes, or blend the blooms into fresh bread. Anise hyssop tea, which tastes similar to licorice, can be used to treat colds, coughs and fevers. (eHow.com)
Genus - Agastache
Species - Foeniculum
Common name - Blue Giant Hyssop
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 9
Height - 2-3' / 0,60 - 1 m
Spread - 12-28" / 0,30 - 0,70 m
Plant type - Perennial
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Neutral
Soil type - Clay, laom, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Although the plant is ornamental, it has a number of practical uses.
Bloom season - Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Blue, Purple, Blue Violet
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Plant anise hyssop seeds in early spring. Fill small planting containers or a planting tray with commercial potting soil and spread the anise hyssop seeds on the top of the soil. The seeds are tiny, so cover them with no more than 3-4 mm of potting soil. 2. Put the planting containers in plastic bags, with the tops of the bags left open. If you're planted the seeds in a planting tray, cover the tray with a sheet of clear plastic. 3. Place the planting containers in a warm place but out of direct sunlight. When the seedlings emerge in about a week, remove the plastic and put the seedlings in a sunny window until the seedlings can be moved outdoors in the spring, after the last frost of the season. 4. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot in a herb garden or flower bed and prepare the soil for planting. 5. Plant the seedlings and water them lightly. Keep the soil moist throughout the growing season. Otherwise, the plants won't continue blooming into autumn. 6. Harvest the leaves as needed for tea or for use in the kitchen. To dry the plant, cut them near the ground and hang the plants upside down in a warm, well-ventilated place. Once the plants are dry, strip the leaves from the leaves and store them in an airtight container. Info source: eHow.com |