Anise hyssop is a perennial herbaceous plant, valued for its characteristic mint-anise aroma and taste. The leaves resemble nettle: they are green, triangular with a sharp tip, the underside is white-grey and slightly hairy. The flowers are small, blue in shade, gathered in false whorls of 12–25 pieces, and the seeds are elongated-oval, dark brown with a white spot.
In garden and vegetable farming, anise hyssop is grown as a decorative plant and as a source of aromatic leaves. Young leaves are added to salads, sauces, meat and fish dishes, while dried ones are added to spice mixes or for making tea. The yield of green mass is 1.8–2.1 kg/m², which makes it profitable both for personal consumption and for small-scale commercial production.
The plant prefers sunny places with moist, but well-drained soil. It is easily propagated by seeds and vegetatively, and also attracts bees thanks to its aromatic inflorescences. Anise hyssop is perfect for creating bright color accents in mixed borders and can serve as food for honey-producing insects.
