Anise Hyssop

Herb of the Year 2019

Jo Francks MH

This year’s international herb of the year is Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise Hyssop is a native plant of North America in the mint family and has a flavor and scent of licorice and mint. It is a very attractive plant to grow in any herb garden and will act as most mints and spread itself out and take over if left to its own devices. This plant has attractive purple spike flowers which bloom from June to September and will attract visitors such as bees, butterflies and hummingbird and the scent of the leaves will deter unwanted munchers like deer and squirrels.
Native American tribes had many uses for this plant. It was used as medicine for diarrhea, coughs and fevers and also as a flavoring for food.
It can be used externally as a tea or poultice on wounds or burns, rashes, insect bites and itching. A salve can be made from the leaves and used for the same purpose. There have been cases where it has been helpful for poison ivy exposure. Anise Hyssop is a wonderful cardiac tonic and mood enhancer.

I’m excited to add this plant to my herb garden this year. I plan to harvest and dry the flowers to make sleep pillows or potpourri. I’ll harvest the leaves for tea to use as a cough medicine and a diaphoretic tea. I’ll also use the leaves to make an ointment for the skin. Anise Hyssop has many uses and seems to be a great option for use in a medicinal herb garden.