Hyssop Lavender
Agastache foeniculum
Perennial in USDA zones 4-9. Also known as Anise Hyssop and licorice mint, Lavender Hyssop is a native Midwestern U.S. perennial that was commonly used as for tea and medicinal remedies by Native Americans. It is as useful in the kitchen as it is beautiful. The leaves and flowers make a refreshing licorice-fruity tasting tea and can be tossed in salads. The lavender-blue flower spikes can be harvested for fresh or dried floral arrangements. Plant it in a border or near a pathway, so you can enjoy its refreshing scent as you pass by. Lavender Hyssop usually blooms for the first time in the second year. It may also be grown on a sunny windowsill in the winter for a refreshing reminder of summer.