Description | White Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum Alba) is an upright herbaceous perennial with aromatic foliage. Has dense terminal spikes of white flowers. A good source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. |
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Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Wild Flowers |
Hardiness Zone | 3-8 |
Sunlight | full, mostly sunny |
Moisture | Prefers moist to average. Tolerates drier once established |
Soil & Site | well drained |
Flowers | Densely packed, many-flowered verticillasters (false whorls) forming a cylindrical, terminal white flower spike. A good source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. |
Fruit | oval-shaped nutlets ( #277) |
Leaves | green, simple, toothed margins, licorice-like (anise) scent |
Stems | rhizomes, upright stems are stem |
Dimensions | 2-3 feet. will spread by rhizomes or reseeding |
Maintenance | deadheading to prevent self-seeding |
Propagation | seeds, cuttings |
Misc Facts | Genus name comes from the Greek words agan meaning "very much" and stachys meaningng "ear of wheat" in reference to the flower spikes. Species comes from Latin meaning hay and alba referring to the white flowers. |
Author's Notes | Part of the common name is Hyssop. Agastache is not closely related to this plant. Both are in the same family but are in a different genus. It is often listed as a short-lived perennial. |
Notes & Reference | #144-Missouri Botanical Gardens website (www.missouribotanicalgarden.org), #277-Wisconsin Horticulture University Extention (hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles), #288-Cornel University (www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/) |