Exploring the many gifts offered by the Anise Hyssop in the context of Food Forest Design. This is Installment #4 of the Stacking Functions in the Garden, Food Forest and Medicine Cabinet series.
We had Hyssop in the garden of our previous home here in Colorado. I never knew of its medicinal and culinary applications. I just loved the smell of the leaves when you rubbed them between your fingers. I wish I'd known then what I know now.
I love this flower! It grows great in Texas, not as a perennial, but easily reseeding. I didn’t realize it’s medicinal value, this is great material. I planted it for the bees and for the kitchen, the taste is so mild for just that touch of anis flavor. I’m going to include this in my growing herbal pages, thanks so much!
Me too! Ours was covered in parasitoid wasps and solitary bees last summer. I planted some beside our apple trees and those parasitic wasps zoomed in to kill the aphids on the new apple leaves it was awesome! They also make great companions for Goji Berry vines as the solitary bees that anise hyssop attract are well suited to visit many Goji blossoms.
I am glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for sharing! :)
HI Gavin, thanks for all the detail, I will look forward to reading the others in the series. Question about growing zones for this plant: I see the same plant listed as growing in zones 6-10 on Strictly Medicinal's website, so I'm a bit confused about whether I can grow it in my USDA grow zone 4b garden. I'd appreciate your thoughts, thanks.
You are most welcome and I am glad you are exited for the series (and the future book that series will become).
Great question, not sure why Richo Cech would list it as zone 6+. This will be the first time I do not agree with his info on a herb (I own two of his books and I am a frequent customer of his). Perhaps he has just not had an opportunity to see it growing up north yet? It does grow right up into the Boreal Forest zones here in Canada so should be fine for your zone 4 garden.
You could always plant one in a pot and one in the ground as a test and bring the pot in over winter in the garage or shed as a back up plan, but I think it should do fine where you are.
Impressive. I grew a lot of it in my food forest garden in Minneapolis. I have not seen any growing wild in Central Minnesota.
We had Hyssop in the garden of our previous home here in Colorado. I never knew of its medicinal and culinary applications. I just loved the smell of the leaves when you rubbed them between your fingers. I wish I'd known then what I know now.
I love this flower! It grows great in Texas, not as a perennial, but easily reseeding. I didn’t realize it’s medicinal value, this is great material. I planted it for the bees and for the kitchen, the taste is so mild for just that touch of anis flavor. I’m going to include this in my growing herbal pages, thanks so much!
Me too! Ours was covered in parasitoid wasps and solitary bees last summer. I planted some beside our apple trees and those parasitic wasps zoomed in to kill the aphids on the new apple leaves it was awesome! They also make great companions for Goji Berry vines as the solitary bees that anise hyssop attract are well suited to visit many Goji blossoms.
I am glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for sharing! :)
Another awesome read Gavin.
Thank you very much for these explanations and recipes.
I appreciate the thoughtful comment and glad you found the material to be helpful.
Cheers Harry
HI Gavin, thanks for all the detail, I will look forward to reading the others in the series. Question about growing zones for this plant: I see the same plant listed as growing in zones 6-10 on Strictly Medicinal's website, so I'm a bit confused about whether I can grow it in my USDA grow zone 4b garden. I'd appreciate your thoughts, thanks.
Hello JM
You are most welcome and I am glad you are exited for the series (and the future book that series will become).
Great question, not sure why Richo Cech would list it as zone 6+. This will be the first time I do not agree with his info on a herb (I own two of his books and I am a frequent customer of his). Perhaps he has just not had an opportunity to see it growing up north yet? It does grow right up into the Boreal Forest zones here in Canada so should be fine for your zone 4 garden.
You could always plant one in a pot and one in the ground as a test and bring the pot in over winter in the garage or shed as a back up plan, but I think it should do fine where you are.
Hope this helps!