Anise Hyssopnon-native
Agastache 'Black Adder' · Lamiaceae
Field guide
'Black Adder' is a hybrid hyssop (Agastache rugosa × foeniculum), 2–3 ft. tall, with dense 6–8 in. bottlebrush spikes of smoky violet-blue flowers emerging from near-black buds from midsummer to frost, over anise-scented foliage. A pollinator powerhouse drawing constant bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, it demands full sun and lean, sharply drained soil—rich or wet soils cause crown rot and poor winter survival.
Gardener's notes
Treat your 'Black Adder' mean—lean, gritty soil and full sun—and it blooms from July to frost while bees and hummingbirds mob it. Rich soil and wet winter feet kill it, so add grit on heavy clay. Leave stems and seed heads up over winter for insects and goldfinches, then cut back in spring.
Ecology
- Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds (powerhouse late-summer nectar)
- Birds: goldfinches eat seed if left standing
Care this season
- Pruning: lean soil / gravel mulch; deadhead to extend bloom
- Standing stems: leave them — insects overwinter inside.
- Watch for: crown rot in wet/clay/rich soil—needs sharp drainage to overwinter in zone-7 clay
- Toxicity: none—edible licorice-scented leaves/flowers
Meaning
Agastache = Greek for "many spikes." Anise hyssop has Native American and herbal-tea heritage (licorice-scented edible foliage). Loved for marathon bloom and wildlife traffic.
Sources
- Agastache — Missouri Botanical Garden
- Agastache — NC State Extension
Notes: Genus confirmed Agastache; 'Black Adder' is a well-known cultivar (illegible first letter resolved to A). Needs sharp drainage to overwinter in zone-7 clay.