Native Perennial
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil: Sandy, well-drained soils
Height: up to 4'
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Blue, Purple
Resistant to: Deer and Dought
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Pollinator benefit: Xerces Society identifies this plant as having special value to native bees, bumblebees, and honey bees.
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Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a 2-4 ft. perennial with dense, terminal spikes of small, tubular, bright blue flowers. Leaves are opposite, oval, toothed and whitish beneath give off the scent of anise when bruised. The sturdy, erect blue giant-hyssop is of the most ornamental native mints. Also known as licorice mint, giant blue hyssop, lavender hyssop
Xerces Society offers this: "Members of the mint family tend to be highly attractive to bees, and giant hyssop is no exception – in fact, it happens to be one of the most attractive plants for bees and supports a diversity of pollinators. Historically, mass plantings of giant blue hyssop were established in parts of the Midwest and Canada specifically as a “honey plant” to support apiaries. While bees probe the deep tubular flowers for nectar, skippers, fritillaries, and the occasional hummingbird may also visit the plant.
Though it is in the mint family, it does not spread aggressively like culinary mint, but it may be prone to re-seeding throughout the garden. As it’s generally ignored by rabbits and deer, it may be used as a barrier to keep them away from more sensitive plants."
Sources: www.wildflower.org and www.xerces.org