side view of black and white striped butterfly with one vertical red and gold stripe, perched on a stalk of pale lavender colored blossoms, with greenery and out of focus blossoms in background

How To Grow Hyssop Seeds

Updated on Dec 29, 2021
By Shannon McCabe

Latin name Agastache hybrida is a perennial member of the mint family that blooms in the first year. In its first year the blooms will appear in mid-summer, and the next spring it will bloom earlier. Hardy from USDA zones 4-9.

HISTORY

Native to North America. A super pollinator attractor beloved by butterflies and bees. The bright, fragrant flowers make a long-lasting cut flower, too!


USES

  • Ornamental.
  • Cut flowers.
  • A favorite of pollinators.

Bright blue ceramic vase full of stalks of pale violet hyssop flowers against a peeling painted blue-green wooden surface. Another stalk of flowers is in the foreground lying on the grey-blue surfaceBright blue ceramic vase full of stalks of pale violet hyssop flowers against a peeling painted blue-green wooden surface. Another stalk of flowers is in the foreground lying on the grey-blue surface

  • Surface sow seeds and just gently press into soil, as light aids germination.
  • Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost and transplant out after last chance of frost has passed, or direct seed outdoors after last frost has passed.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 65-70 F.
close shot of bee resting on leaf on flower stalks with fading pink and white blossomsclose shot of bee resting on leaf on flower stalks with fading pink and white blossoms

  • Prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade.
  • Plants require well-drained soil in order to overwinter as perennials. (They will struggle to survive winter when planted in compacted, boggy soil.
  • Space plants 12-14 inches apart.
  • Plants are relatively drought tolerant and as long is soil is well drained, and they will not fuss about soil or fertility.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Typically a pest- and disease-free plant.
  • Plants will require well-drained soil in order to survive over the winter. They will not tolerate standing water in winter.
stalks of anise hyssop, with clusters of tiny violet blooms, lying on a weathered surfacestalks of anise hyssop, with clusters of tiny violet blooms, lying on a weathered surface

  • Seed saving is unreliable from agastache, but it is very easy to take cuttings in either fall or spring.
  • In fall, snip cuttings and root, keeping indoors as a house plant and treat as a mother plant for propagation in spring.
  • Spring cuttings are even easier; simply take green wood cuttings or woody cuttings to propagate.
bee enjoying the nectar in a cluster of tiny pale purple blossoms among bright green leavesbee enjoying the nectar in a cluster of tiny pale purple blossoms among bright green leaves