What is the common name for Agastache?
Agastache foeniculum, commonly known as anise hyssop, is an upright, clump-forming perennial of the mint family that is native to parts of the upper Midwest and Great Plains (Wisconsin to Ontario west to British Columbia and south to Colorado). Hyssop is an herb prepared from the leaves and flowers of Hyssopus officinalis and is used for alleviation of symptoms of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections and the common cold. Hyssop is widely used and has not been implicated in causing liver injury.Indeed, the leaves of hyssop can be used in herbal tea or added fresh in small quantities to a salad with other greens. The dried leaves can be used for medicinal purposes to treat coughs, fevers, wounds, and diarrhea.There are two types of hyssop plant used to make tea: Hyssop officinalis and Agastache foeniculum, also known by the common name anise hyssop. The hyssop plant is a member of the mint family and the leaves offer an intense minty aroma.
How many years does Agastache live?
Agastache, on the other hand, typically live for three to five years. If yours are only lasting one year, watch for too much water, whether it’s winter wetness, soil that’s too “heavy,” or too much watering during the growing season. Lastly, Agastache should be cut back either in the fall or early spring to clean up the spent growth. All of the top growth will die back and should be cut to within 4-6 inches above the soil. Cutting back in the spring is easily done after the new green shoots emerge.Agastache can be propagated by cuttings in late summer. Find non-flowering shoots 5-10cm long and snip off the plant.Agastache Spacing It spreads mainly by self-seeding late in the summer. These seedlings are easily removed and can be replanted in a more desirable location early in the spring.Agastache is an herbaceous perennial plant that will die back to the ground in fall. Cut back dormant stems to half their height to protect from winter winds. In late winter or early spring, cut the remaining stems back to the ground before plants break dormancy.
Is Agastache good for tea?
Infused in tea, anise hyssop can be used to relieve congestion, acting as an expectorant (clearing mucus from lungs and airways). A cold-infusion can be used to relieve chest pains caused by excessive coughing, and mixed with licorice, it can be used to treat respiratory infections and bronchitis. Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a traditional herb in the mint family that is native to North America. Its leaves are infused in an herbal tea to help clear mucus from the nasal passages and lungs and reduce fever. Its essential oil is used as a balm to heal wounds and burns.