Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop
Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop has blue flowers in the middle of summer and fragrant foliage. This variety originated in Holland’s Trompenberg Arboretum. It is an easy-to-grow annual that requires minimal care. Cut off spent flowers and let the plant regrow with fresh leaves. This plant is not prone to disease or self-seeding.
There are several varieties of anise hyssops, each with their own distinctive characteristics. For example, the hybrid ‘Red Fortune’ produces pink flowers but is not nearly as pollinator friendly. Another plant hybrid with white flowers is the ‘Snow Spike’. It grows to three feet tall.
Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop is a beautiful plant that packs a visual punch in the garden. The flower stems are covered with fuzzy leaves that have a licorice-like scent. The lavender-blue tube-shaped flowers produce a strong fragrance and are good for cutting. The plant’s foliage has a medium texture and upright growth habit.
Anise hyssop is easy to grow from seed. It requires a moderate amount of moisture and will tolerate both full sun and partial shade. Once established, it is drought tolerant and rarely needs staking. However, excessive water can cause root rot.
The leaves are edible and can be used to flavor desserts and jellies. They can be consumed fresh or dried. They can also be used for potpourri. Native Americans also used the plant medicinally. The best time to harvest the foliage is when the flowers are past their bloom. This ensures that the oil content in the leaves is the highest.
Anise hyssop is a perennial plant in the mint family that is native to the midwest and Great Plains. Its flowers are a blue-lavender color and grow on upright stems. The leaves have a licorice-like fragrance, which is said to deter deer and rabbits.
The fragrant leaves and flowers of this plant are edible and attract bees and butterflies. The plant is deer resistant and requires little care. The foliage and flowers of the plant are an excellent addition to a perennial garden or a butterfly garden. The leaves can also be used to make salads.
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