Agastache foeniculum
A drought-tolerant mint family perennial native to northern North America.
Agastache foeniculum, also known as anise hyssop, is a perennial plant in the mint family native to much of northern North America. It is noted for its tolerance of deer and drought and for attracting many pollinators.
Quick Facts
- Species
- foeniculum
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The Cree, Cheyenne, and Ojibwa peoples used the plant medicinally for fevers, respiratory issues, and burns.
- The soft, anise-scented leaves can be used as a seasoning, in tea, in potpourri, or crumbled in salad.
Description
The plant grows from a taproot to 0.6-1.2 m in height, forming a clumplike, upright shape. Its oval, toothed leaves have a white tint underneath. From June to September it produces bright lavender flowers in showy verticillasters, occasionally branching at the apex. A single plant may yield upwards of 90,000 individual flowers. It is commonly confused with Agastache rugosa and Agastache scrophulariifolia, and is not closely related to true hyssop (Hyssopus).
Ecology
This tough plant shrugs off deer and dry spells. Its long bloom season, from June to frost, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and many bee species. Honey bees turn its nectar into light, fragrant honey. One acre can reportedly support 100 hives, with bees working the flowers from dawn to dusk.
More in Plants Used in Traditional Native American Medicine
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