Agastache

Agastache foeniculum is a native North American perennial in the mint family, grown for its strongly anise-scented foliage and dense spikes of lavender-blue flowers from midsummer into fall. It draws an exceptional range of pollinators — bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbirds, and multiple butterfly species — making it one of the most productive native herbs for a wildlife or cottage garden.

Native to prairies, open woodlands, and disturbed ground from the Great Plains to the Northeast, it thrives in lean, well-drained soil with full sun. Established plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant. Agastache self-seeds freely; removing spent stems before seed set limits spread, while allowing seed to ripen produces a self-sustaining colony. Individual plants are relatively short-lived at 3–5 years, but volunteers reliably fill gaps. Prefers a soil pH of 6.0–7.0 and performs poorly in heavy clay or persistently wet conditions.

Leaves carry a strong anise-licorice flavor from the essential oil methyl chavicol — the same compound in tarragon and basil — and are used fresh or dried in teas, baked goods, fruit salads, and as a seasoning for fish and poultry. Several Plains tribes used leaf infusions traditionally for coughs and fevers. The plant produces high-quality nectar and has a documented history in small-scale honey production.