Plant fragrant agastache where you brush the leaves: a path, a patio step, a pot by the door. The scent is in the foliage as much as the spike.
Plant fragrance where you pass
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Path, bench, or pot at elbow height | The back of a wet shrub border |
| Sun | Full sun so the oils stay strong | Deep shade that stretches stems |
| Drain | The same sharp drain as the rest of the genus | A damp hollow that smells of rot, not anise |
Crush a leaf: anise and mint. That is why it sits by a walk, not only in a cutting garden. [1] Same sun and drain as the care page. [2] Morning sun on a path pot is enough if the mix still drains; a north wall will stretch the stems and thin the scent.
Where should I plant fragrant agastache?
Where people pass and can touch a leaf — a path, a patio edge, a pot by the door. Still full sun and draining soil.
Fragrant kinds we hold
- Anise Hyssop — the classic anise-hyssop leaf. [3]
- Golden Jubilee — same scent with gold foliage.
- Blue Fortune and Black Adder — minty hybrids for mid-border height.
- Rock Anise Hyssop — dry western leaf scent; sharp drain required.
- Kudos Coral — compact enough for a path pot.
Habit still lives on Types of Agastache. Do not pick by scent and then plant in wet clay. [4] Brush the plant when you walk past; that is the test that the site is right. A row at the back of a wet shrub screen will never get touched, and the crown will sit wet. Compact Kudos by the door is enough scent; you do not need a hedge of Fortune to smell anise.
What is not a scent job
- Hyssop essential-oil pages and supplements.
- Water hyssop in a pond.
- Garden hyssop (Hyssopus) as if it were anise hyssop.
- A tea recipe standing in for drainage.
Culture stays on How to Grow Agastache.
Put fragrant kinds on a path or by a door. Crush a leaf. Keep the crown dry.
FAQ
Does agastache smell like licorice?
Anise hyssop leaves smell of anise. Hybrids vary. Crush a leaf on the tag plant before you buy a row.
Can I use the leaves in tea?
Gardeners do. Place the plant first, then brew. Grow it in draining soil.
Is fragrant agastache the same as lavender?
No. Pair them in the same sun and drain. They are different plants.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agastache-foeniculum/ - [2] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/agastache/ - [3] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/anise-hyssop/ - [4] UF/IFAS Extension -
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nassauco/2017/05/29/fact-sheet-anise-hyssop/
This note is part of Agastache Guides.
More job shortlists live in Best Plant Picks Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors