Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Well-suited

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 35 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Blue Mountains forests

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

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Colorado Rockies forests

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Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Spacing

18"

Habit

Upright clump-forming herbaceous perennial of the mint family

Care tips

•

Give it full sun and well-drained soil — wet, poorly drained sites invite crown and root rot.

•

Deadhead spent spikes to extend the June-to-September bloom and curb heavy self-seeding.

•

Leave a few seed heads standing if you want it to naturalize, or cut them off to keep the planting tidy.

Lifecycle

Planting

Plant in spring or fall in average, dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade; best in full sun (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder). Good drainage matters more than fertility — crown and root rot develop in poorly drained soils.

Transplanting

Move young clumps or self-sown seedlings while dormant or during mild weather, keeping roots moist.

Early growth

Keep moisture even while roots establish; the plant tolerates dry soil and drought particularly once established.

Maturity

Mature plants reach 2-4 feet tall and 1.5-3 feet wide, blooming June to September. Deadhead spent flower spikes to promote additional bloom. Plants spread by rhizomes and self-seed readily in optimum conditions.

Propagation

Grows readily from seed (self-sows freely); clumps can also be divided in spring. Watch for rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spots per Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder.

Pollination

Self-fertile

A bee-pollinated mint with perfect (bisexual) flowers — no separate pollinizer plant is required, and it self-seeds freely. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center lists it as a nectar source with special value to native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees; it also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Plants don't grow alone

Nectar forage

Butterfly

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

UW-Madison Horticulture lists anise hyssop (Agastache) among adult painted lady nectar plants.

Nectar forage

Butterfly

Great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)

Nectar forage

Bee

Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis)

Nectar forage

Other

Green lacewings (Chrysopidae)

Nectar forage

Bee

Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center flags Agastache foeniculum as having special value to bumble bees; the long-blooming flower spikes are a heavily worked summer nectar source.

Nectar forage

Bee

European honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Listed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center as having special value to honey bees — a strong nectar plant whose common alternate name "anise hyssop" reflects its long use as a bee forage.

Nectar forage

Bee

Sweat bees (Lasioglossum spp.)

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center flags special value to native bees generally, which includes small sweat bees such as Lasioglossum that work the small two-lipped flowers.

Nectar forage

Bird

Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Both Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center list the tubular flowers as attracting hummingbirds.

Pollen forage

Bee

Leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.)

Seed forage

Bird

Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Shelter / habitat

Beetle

Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)

For people

Edible

A culinary herb of the mint family with anise-scented, licorice-flavored foliage; Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists it for herb-garden use and the leaves and flowers are traditionally used fresh or dried in teas, baked goods, and as a garnish.

Native range

Native across 9 US states + 6 CA provinces.

AHS heat range

1-11

Native ecoregions

Naturally belongs in 17 ecoregions — its native range crosses a state or province each one spans (not necessarily this exact habitat).

Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Colorado Rockies forests

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Eastern Canadian Forest-Boreal transition

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Eastern Great Lakes lowland forests

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Nebraska Sand Hills mixed grasslands

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North Cascades conifer forests

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Northeastern Hardwoods

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Northern Pacific Alaskan coastal forests

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Climate notes

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists Agastache foeniculum for USDA zones 4 to 8, 2-4 ft tall by 1.5-3 ft wide, blooming June to September in full sun to part shade with dry-to-medium moisture and good drainage.

•

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center records it native across the upper Midwest, northern Plains, and central Canada (US: CO, IA, MN, MT, ND, NE, SD, WI, WY; Canada: AB, BC, MB, NT, ON, SK) and documents special pollinator value to native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees plus attraction to butterflies and hummingbirds.

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder notes crown/root rot in poorly drained soils and possible rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spots; it tolerates deer, drought, and dry soil.

In the designer

Growth over time

24-48" tall · 18-36" spread

Mature 2-4 ft clump; spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds in good conditions.

Design roles: Pollinator · Border · Edible

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Anise hyssop

At a glance

Related products

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations