On a warm day in July you will find anise hyssop covered in bumble bees. This Herb has bluish purple spikes of flowers that provide nectar for pollinating insects. It is a favorite of bees. The anise smell and taste is unattractive to deer so they tend to avoid the plant. Chewing insects tend to avoid it as well.

The plant is clumping and upright in habit, the leaves are dark green  and give off an licorice sent when crushed. Anise hyssop produces a lot of seed and self seeds freely. This makes it an excellent choice for a meadow garden. The purple color of the flower have calming effect and the leaves add a course texture.

Anise hyssop looks great when coupled with scarlet beebalm, oxe-eye sunflower, obedient plant, coneflowers, summer phlox  and joe-pye weed. This grouping provides a great amount of nectar and pollen for many pollinators such as bees butterflies, and hummingbirds.