Medicinal plant

Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

A carminative, licorice-scented tea herb. Also called Blue Giant Hyssop.

Traditionally used as a carminative to ease gas, bloating, and mild digestive discomfort, and as an expectorant to loosen respiratory mucus. Taken warm, it’s used as a diaphoretic during a feverish cold. It’s also gently relaxing and pleasant as an evening or digestive tea — a nervine and aromatic all in one.

Harvest leaves in late spring through early summer, before flowering, for culinary use.

Properties

Carminative — Helps relieve gas, bloating, and digestive discomfort

Diaphoretic — Encourages sweating

Expectorant — Helps loosen and move mucus from the lungs and chest

Energetics

Warming Drying Relaxing

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), historical botanical illustration

Growing and using it

Life cycle

Herbaceous perennial.

What to buy

Straight-species anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) seed or plant.

Best way to start

Seed or nursery plant.

Seed starting

Surface sow indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost or direct sow; light helps germination.