Agastache foeniculum

Often cultivated as an annual, this Agastache foeniculum, also known as Anise Hyssop, is covered in summer with long spikes adorned with tiny violet to mauve, highly fragrant flowers above its aromatic grey-green foliage. Perfect for wilder areas of the garden or as a culinary plant. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in ordinary, moist, well-drained soil.

Agastache foeniculum is a plant from the Lamiaceae family, native to North America. In nature as well as in the garden, it hybridises easily with other Agastache species and self-seeds abundantly. Growing from 45 cm (17.7 in) to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) depending on the soil and climate, it forms an upright herbaceous clump. Its angled stems are adorned with pubescent leaves that are grey-green on top and whitish on the underside; they are thin and elongated, with coarsely dentate edges, 8 cm (3.1 in) long, and give off an anise scent. It is mainly cultivated for the beauty of its long floral spikes that appear during summer, from July to October. The small bilabiate tubular flowers are densely packed in terminal spikes, 4 to 8 cm (1.6 to 3.1 in) long, vividly coloured (blue, mauve, or white) and exuding a powerful anise fragrance. Wild varieties have blue petals, mauve calyces, and bracts.

Anise hyssop is an easy-to-grow and very robust plant. It can withstand light frosts, around -7 °C (19.4 °F). It will find its place in natural or countryside-style flower beds, or in the vegetable garden where it can accompany thyme, savory, chervil, or basil. Dried flowers can be well preserved in bouquets. The leaves are traditionally used in cooking as a substitute for anise or in herbal teas after drying.