Tip #10: Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise hyssop combines aromatic licorice-scented foliage with striking purple-blue floral spikes that persist well past the first hard frost. Growing two to four feet tall in USDA Zones 4 through 9, this native member of the mint family blooms continuously from mid-summer through November. Its dense flower spires produce high volumes of rich nectar, making it a crucial food source for late-season pollinators like native bees, swallowtail butterflies, and late-migrating hummingbirds.
Anise hyssop demands full sun to light shade and well-drained soil; it tolerates dry conditions easily once its root system establishes. The stiff, square stems withstand freezing temperatures and autumn winds without breaking or falling over. Even after hard frosts kill the individual flower petals, the persistent purple calyxes and seed heads retain their color and structure, providing geometric beauty and high-energy seeds for overwintering birds throughout the season.
