Pollinator plant

Anise hysop

Agastache foeniculum

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

27 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (17)
Dutch
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Koreaanse munt
French
  • agastache fenouil[1][2]
  • Hysope anisée
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Cree
  • kâ-wîkipakâhk[2]
Czech
  • Agastache anýzová[2]
Danish
  • indianermynte[2]
Estonian
  • aniisi-hiidiisop[2]
Finnish
  • yrtti-iiso[2]
German
Hungarian
  • ánizsillatú izsópfű[2]
Japanese
  • シロバナカワミドリ[2]
Ojibwe
  • Weza’wûnûckwûk’[2]
Polish
  • Kłosowiec fenkułowy[2]
Russian
  • Многоколосник фенхельный[2]
Slovak
  • agastacha feniklová[2]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Agastache foeniculum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Dropnetel — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Dropplant — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • anise hyssop — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Anis-Duftnessel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Anis-Riesenysop — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Blue Giant Hyssop — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Lavender hyssop — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • agastache fenouil — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
[2] Agastache foeniculum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Dropnetel — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Dropplant — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • anise hyssop — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Anis-Duftnessel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Anis-Riesenysop — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Blue Giant Hyssop — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Lavender hyssop — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • agastache fenouil — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • yrtti-iiso — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • シロバナカワミドリ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • aniisi-hiidiisop — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Многоколосник фенхельный — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Weza’wûnûckwûk’ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • anisisop — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • kâ-wîkipakâhk — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • indianermynte — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Kłosowiec fenkułowy — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Agastache anýzová — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • ánizsillatú izsópfű — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • 茴藿香 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • 茴藿香 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
  • agastacha feniklová — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 158076; Agastache foeniculum.
[3] Agastache foeniculum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Anise Hyssop — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Agastache foeniculum.
  • Hyssop — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Agastache foeniculum.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Agastache foeniculum ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Anis-Riesenysop (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159726; taxon 5TQ7D.
  • Blue giant hyssop (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159727; taxon 5TQ7D.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Agastache foeniculum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.46–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Agastache species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
Canada to NW. & NC. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.90 m high × 0.40 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
7-10
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Tea
Functions
Pollinator plant
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Leaves and flowers can be eaten both raw and cooked, and are often used to enhance the flavor of dishes. When eaten raw, they have a delightful sweet, anise-like taste, making them perfect for salads. They can also be cooked and added to dishes, especially with sour fruits. Be aware that the leaves can be somewhat drying in the mouth, so they should be consumed in small quantities. You can also make a flavorful tea from these leaves.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Agastache foeniculum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1768290; ID 5TQ7D; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1768290; ID 5TQ7D; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Agastache foeniculum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Agastache species (top 547 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Agastache foeniculum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 949161; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 5628, 5629, 5630, 5631, 5632, 5633, 5634, 5635, 5636, 5637, 5638, 5639, 5640, 5641, 5642, 5643, 5644, 5645, 5646, 5647

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.