# anise hyssop (*Agastache foeniculum*)

Anise hyssop is a lovely plant with tall spikes of purple flowers. It has a sweet, anise-like smell that many insects love! This plant can brighten up gardens and attract butterflies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Anise Mint, Licorice Mint

![anise hyssop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agastace_foeniculum_WPC.jpg&width=800)

Photo: WayneRay, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agastace_foeniculum_WPC.jpg)

## Appearance

The anise hyssop has an upright, bushy habit with square stems and textured, green leaves that resemble mint. Its showy flowers appear in dense, spike-like clusters of vibrant purple-blue, making it visually distinct.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Agastache

## Interesting facts

- Honeybees adore its flowers, helping them create delicious, unique honey!
- It's a mint family member, but its leaves famously smell like licorice!
- Native Americans used it for centuries in teas, medicines, and as flavoring.
- This amazing plant grows well in sun or partial shade, making it adaptable!

## Special abilities

- **Scent Shield:** Anise hyssop has leaves that release a strong licorice scent, which helps it deter some herbivores from eating its foliage.
- **Nectar Magnet:** Its abundant, long-lasting flowers produce a sweet nectar that helps it attract a wide variety of bees and butterflies.
- **Tough Thriver:** Anise hyssop can thrive in many soil types and tolerate drought, helping it survive in diverse environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers
- **Pollinates:** [monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits flowers for sugary nectar fuel
- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar for honey production

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify anise hyssop?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is anise hyssop?

60-150 cm

### How wide does anise hyssop spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on anise hyssop?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does anise hyssop bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is anise hyssop edible?

Yes

### Is anise hyssop toxic?

None

### What is anise hyssop's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Anise Hyssop: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/anise-hyssop)