Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise hyssop is a tough, upright native perennial wildflower with bright purple spikes of flowers emerging in June and persisting through September. As the name suggests, the leaves of this plant are very fragrant. Best planted as a mass in an open sunny spot or in a dry perennial bed.
Natural habitat: Open fields, meadows
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Soil requirements: Average to dry soil
USDA hardiness: Zones 4-8
Height: 2′-4′
Spacing: 1.5′-3′
Wildlife value: Pollinators, hummingbirds
Deer resistance: Resistant
Rabbit resistance: Resistant
Germination requirements
30 CMS; require light to germinate
Anise hyssop seeds require 30 days of cold moist stratification (abbreviated CMS in many reference guides). Stratification is the process of pre-treating seeds to mimic their natural cycles in an artificial setting.
Cold moist stratification can be achieved by sowing the seeds in your planting medium, gently watering them in, and setting them outside for a minimum of 30 days of temperatures consistently below 40 degrees. They will germinate when the soil warms up in spring. Alternatively, you can mix the seeds with a small amount of moist (not wet) sand, perlite, or vermiculite in a plastic baggie and place it in a refrigerator for 30 days. After chilling the seeds for 60 days, sow them by spreading out the contents of the baggie on the surface of your medium and gently watering them in.
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