redolent anise Hyssopus officinalis , Agastache genus Foeniculum , is a shortly - lived , summer - to - strike blooming perennial for zone 4 to 9 with spikes of drear , lilac , or white blossoms .

It ’s a extremity of the mint fellowship that grows for about three years but reseeds generously under ideal conditions .

A fast - growing , comestible flower , aniseed Hyssopus officinalis thrives in full sun to part wraith locations with average , well - drain soil .

A close up horizontal image of purple anise hyssop flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.

Mature high are 24 to 36 column inch with a spread of 18 to 36 inches . works are easy to start from seeds , stem cuttings , or by dividing existent specimens .

Ourguide to growing Pimpinella anisum hyssophas all you postulate to have it off to innovate this colourful mintage to your landscape painting .

This article discusses how to prune anise hyssop plants . Here ’s what we ’ll cover :

A close up vertical image of a large anise hyssop plant with purple flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.

What You’ll Learn

Natural Growth habit

understanding for Trimming

Pruning Tips for Success

A close up horizontal image of the round foliage of anise hyssop growing in a container.

permit ’s begin !

Anise hyssop has an upright , clumping growth drug abuse and spreads via surreptitious rootstock and self - seeding .

The dark-green , elliptical foliage emerges with a tinge of purple . When crushed between the fingers , it utter an aroma resemble a combining of Basil of Caesarea and anise .

A close up horizontal image of anise hyssop stems on a wooden surface.

Unscented , two - lipped tubular blossoms cluster in impenetrable spikes at the final end of the stems from June to September , providing ambrosia for good pollinator .

unimaginative hybrids , like ‘ Blue Fortune , ’ do not set seed , but those that do provide late - season nourishment for foraging songbirds .

Plants die back with the first frost , go forth once again the following spring .

A close up vertical image of anise hyssop growing in the garden with purple coneflowers.

There are various reason for pruning your anise hyssop plants , including :

Let ’s talk about each .

Collecting Stems for Bouquets

A. foeniculumis a popularcutting gardenflower that geminate well withbee balmandconefloweras they have similar cultural requirements .

skip halt for vase agreement shortens their stature , upgrade lateral branching , and decoct legginess .

Deadheading Spent Blossom Spikes

Deadheadingis the appendage of removing dog-tired flowers before they have a prospect to rig source .

When all of the lilliputian blossoms on a spike fade , jog off the entire fore just above a brace of leave . From this natural growing point , horizontal prow will sprout .

Deadheading promotes more blooming , create a compact form , and limits ego - sowing .

A close up horizontal image of leggy anise hyssop growing in the garden.

Encourage a Compact Form

Pruning to foster shaggy , rather than leggy growth facilitate anise hyssop to be a well - behaved garden comrade that does n’t flop over on its neighbors .

Begin in other leaping by trim the stems to withdraw one - third of the plant ’s stature .

As the leafage tips regrow , crimp off the first one or two sets of parting until summer get down to continue to encourage shaggy-haired leaf .

A close up vertical image of the seed heads of anise hyssop in the fall garden.

Damaged, Diseased, Infested, or Wayward Stems

If a stem caisson disease or time out , burn it off just above the first pair of leave below the point of breakage , or at any altitude you desire . Be sure to make your cut above a pair of folio .

Where disease or pest harm is life-threatening , remove entire stems to slack the progress of disease and clean up up coming into court . Clean your pruners later and qualify of the clippings in the wish-wash .

you’re able to apply stakes to support long stems or abbreviate those that flop over to keep breakage .

A horizontal image of anise hyssop flowers growing in a mixed perennial bed.

Make all cuts just above a couplet of folio to jumpstart regrowth and encourage blooming .

Clearing Dead Foliage

At season ’s end , you have two choice : Leave the stalk and any remaining seminal fluid head in place for wintertime interest or prune them to the ground .

To tidy up the garden , disregard the stems just above the crown and remove all debris .

If you leave behind them in place , foreshorten them just above the crown when fresh foliage appears the following saltation .

Do n’t trim the stem after a frost , as shorten them while they are mushy may result in crown harm .

Pruning is trying for plants . Minimize the impingement by lachrymation as require the day before and working early on a coolheaded morning out of lineal sunlight .

Before taking up your shears , sanitize them in a solvent of nine parts piss to one part whitener , rinse , and dry out thoroughly .

Sharpen your shear as needed to ensure clean cuts . Pruning cut back with jagged sharpness are prone to poor healing , disease , and pest plague .

Weargardening glovesfor protection from garden allergen and pest .

As observe , make all cut just above a pair of leaves , a instinctive growing point most potential to regenerate raw foliage and fork .

Never remove more than one - third of the intensity of the plant or you risk stern stress and possible plant last .

Clean your shears between plant and when you are through for the solar day . wash off your garden gloves regularly or fair per producer ’s instructions .

at long last , dispose of pathological or pest - infested cloth in the trash .

Well-Groomed and Companionable

BecauseA. foeniculumis easy to cultivate in various soil type and is drought tolerant once established , nurseryman may wish to provide the industrial plant to their own designs . But if you do this , your anise hyssop is likely to become leggy and look a little weedy .

An early springtime trim , pinching until summertime , deadheading , and the episodic clipping here and there all help to make anise hyssop an attractive and welcome garden companion .

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Nan Schiller