Hyssop

Hyssop Flowers

Hyssop’s soft green leaves add a subtle texture amidst other garden plants. Once it starts to bloom in mid- to late summer, tall spikes of whorled blue, purple, pink, and white blossoms create an eye-catching display. Hyssop flowers are loved by bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. In fact, many beekeepers rub their hives with hyssop to encourage the bees to stick around.

Hyssop Care

This easy-to-grow plant loves full sun and well-drained soil. (In warmer climates, it may perform better with some afternoon shade.) Before planting, work plenty of organic matter into the soil. You may want to add a light application of organic fertilizer to the hole before tucking in the plant. Place these plants 12 to 18 inches apart to accommodate their eventual height and width. Water young plants regularly until established. When grown in ideal conditions, hyssop is happy to self-seed, although not enough to be considered invasive. Light pruning will help maintain a compact shape.

Hyssop Uses

In cooking, use this herb sparingly because it has a strong flavor. Chop young leaves and scatter them on salads. Use them to flavor soups, stews, and meat and oily fish dishes. Hyssop is also known for its medicinal properties. The plant is used to aid digestion of rich foods and reduce the swelling of bruises. Hyssop’s essential oil can be used as an antiseptic.

Hyssop Harvesting Tips

For optimal flavor, harvest a plant’s youngest stems and leaves in the morning after the dew has dried. Although best used when fresh, this herb can be stored frozen in plastic bags. Or you can dry it by tying cuttings in small bundles, hanging them upside down in a well-ventilated room for about six days, and then removing the leaves from the stems. When stored in airtight containers, the dried leaves will keep up to 18 months. Grind or crush these leaves just before use.

Plant Hyssop With:

Hummingbird mint

Both hyssop and hummingbird mint attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Compact hyssop works well as a foreground plant to the taller, airier stems of hummingbird mint. The pink tubular blooms of hummingbird mint contrast nicely with the lavender-purple spikes of hyssop.

In Zone 4, the purple flower spikes of hyssop make a good substitute for less-hardy lavenders. Where both can be grown, pair them for a double dose of violet. The fine medium-green foliage of hyssop stands out against the silvery gray of lavender.

With blooms of white, pink, or purple, veronica complements hyssop blooms. Try surrounding hyssop with low-growing groundcover types in front of it and taller spiked speedwell behind it in the border.