Agastache: Anise Hyssop

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

anise hyssop - Agastache - one of my favorite plants !

Basics

 Agastache is a perennial plant with lovely flower spikes that bloom all season long. The flower is usually purple to lavender, but may also bloom in pink, rose, blue, white, and orange.It is a native of North America and its name derives from the Ancient Greek words ἄγαν (ágan) "very much" and στάχυς (stákhus) "ear of grain", describing the flower spikes. 

orange flowering variety

Culinary Use

 This Genus is a member of subfamily Nepetoideae (CATNIP), which contains a large proportion of the world's aromatic culinary herbs.As a member of the Hyssop family of herbs – it makes a delicious flavorful tea. Leaves, seeds and flowers have a sweet anise flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are used as a flavoring in cooking and present a delicious addition to the salad bowl. Seeds are used in cookies, cakes and muffins. 

the white variety makes for a great contrast

Gardening Facts

 Grown as a drought-loving perennial it actually produces the best plants in full sun. It seldom gets any insects or disease issues and is a fast grower.  Adapting well to windy spots it blooms all summer long well into frost.  By December it dies back down in fall disappearing into the soil ! 

red !

 It is a striking plant that has some cultivars which can grow up to 6 feet.  Keep that in mind when selecting a variety ! 

pretty tubular yellow flowers

 If you want to feed your local pollinators – this is your plant!  Loved by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is one of their favorite plants. 

its one of bees favorite plants !

For the best bee, butterfly and hummingbird friendly garden ever -

Call Plant Specialists TODAY !

Don't delay – the sooner the better !

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

  Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission from @SHUTTERSTOCK 

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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