How to grow Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Seeds require light to germinate, so barely cover at room temperature to germinate 5-30 days. Keep soil moist but not sopping. Use bottom watering or keep the pot in an open baggie or under a humidity dome. Some sources believe using bottom heat will speed germination. Others recommend that this seed be cold stratified for two months before planting – sow them in a paper towel that has been wet and wrung out. Fold towel up and put in a baggie. Put baggie in fridge for two months, then put in indirect light (or try “Outdoor Treatment”). When germination starts, unfold the towel and cut it into small squares. Gently press each square against wet potting soil to “plant.” Keep pots in an open baggie until seedlings grow through the paper towel and are established. Don’t put in direct sun. Transplant to 1 ft/.25m apart in rich soil and full sun or partial shade – stalks will be stronger in full sun. It might need staking in partial shade. Many sources claim this plant is good in dry situations, but I read a report on its experimental use as part of a green roof community, and it died in the second year without any supplemental water. This makes sense because mints typically like water. Best place for mints in the garden is by a leaky faucet. This perennial generally blooms the second year from seeds but might bloom the first year if it is happy. Cut it back by 1/3 after blooming, and it will get bushier and rebloom. Plants get 3-6ft/.60-1.5m tall. Anise hyssop is hardy from zone 5 to 9 (down to -28.8° C (-20° F)). It self-seeds readily and its roots travel underground, but it is not too aggressive. Deer tend to avoid eating this plant, so a back border of anise hyssop can be effective in keeping them away. Rabbits love it, though.

Growing Anise hyssop from seed

Start seeds where plants are to stay lightly covering the seeds seeds with soil and press softly. Keep soil moist until germination which will take from 12 to fourteen days.

Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.

Harvesting Anise hyssop

Young leaves are good for tea or salads and Flowers make a nice garnish

Seed Saving Anise hyssop

Harvest the browned spikes by hand. Seed viability is three to four years.

How long does Anise hyssop take to grow?

These estimates for how long Anise hyssop takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Anise hyssop to germinate?
12 days

Average 12 days | Min 5 days | Max 58 days (9)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Anise hyssop?
+ 55 days

Average 55 days | Min 55 days | Max 55 days (3)

Days to Maturity How long until Anise hyssop is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 115 days

Average 115 days | Min 66 days | Max 464 days (2)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Anise hyssop?
= 182 days

Other names for Anise hyssop

Licorice mint, Drop plant, Agastache, Blue giant hyssop, Giant hyssop, Mexican hyssop

Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze

Misspellings: Droplant, Dropplant

Footnotes

1 Herb to know: Anise Hyssop — The Easy Grow Herb

2 Missouri Botanical Garden


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