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Free Anise Hyssop Seeds!

 
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Hello!  Last year I saved a few ounces of Anise Hyssop seed which I'm happy to share with folks who want to grow some.  Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a perennial plant native to the United States which bees and other pollinators absolutely adore.  It also has a history of use as a medicinal herb.  I've found it easy to grow in both sun and shade and in a wide range of soil types.  If you would like to plant some Anise Hyssop and do not already have seeds please get in touch with me with an address I can mail to and I'd be delighted to send you some for free!
 
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Hello Violet,
Thank you for posting your offer for seeds and the beautiful photograph.  I am planting some bare root apple and Asian pear trees this year and would appreciate a sampling of your seeds to nourish the pollinators and encourage them to hang around.  I am sending you a Purple with an address.  Thank you kindly!
 
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I don't need the seeds but thank you for offering them! I'll just comment with some growing notes.

I first bought a packet of anise hyssop seeds a few years ago. The seeds are tiny and I had trouble keeping them damp enough on the surface of the soil, and then for weeks of tiny seedlings. But eventually I got one going, and ever since then they have been self-seeding.

Uses:
• It is grown as an ornamental sometimes, for its tall soft spikes of small purple flowers.
• Herbal tea from the leaves (if you like anise / licorice flavor)
• Chopped fine into leafy salad (if you like the anise flavor)
• Attracts pollinators and maybe other beneficials too.
• I guess the flower spikes are edible but don't seem like a nice texture to eat. We have used them as stirrers or garnish in drinks. Eh, fine, nothing special.

The leaves make a lovely herbal tea (if you like licorice / anise flavor). I also like it as an iced tea. I soak a large handful of leaves chopped up in a jar of boiling hot water. If left for a few hours, it can became sweet enough to be as if there were sugar added, so I like it as an iced tea.

I've found that in my unheated solar greenhouse that goes below freezing every night for about 3 months of winter, when the anise hyssop turns a dark purplish color, it makes a blue tea. Which entertains me and I like it.

If it gets too worn out in the winter you can cut it down to the ground and it will sprout back from the roots vigorously. Outdoors, where I think we get minimums of -20C to -25C (zone 5?) it dies to the ground and rebounds in the spring.

It is said to be a short-lived perennial. It self-seeds vigorously, and transplants happily. It's easy enough to pull out if you need to, and aside from getting bigger from the base, it doesn't spread like its mint cousins.
 
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I've already ordered seeds but do appreciate your generosity.  
 
Violet Cabra
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Hi Angela, many thanks for the response --- I'll respond to the pm promptly.

Hi Rebecca, thank you for this! That's super helpful.

Hi Michelle, thank you for the kind words!
 
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I just received a whole bunch of seeds from Violet. Thank you so much for the kind gift. It was very generous of you. Can't wait to plant them.
 
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The first time I planted hyssop, I didn't see it that year in my wildflower garden but it showed up the next year and the year after that, just popping up in random places as a nice surprise.  

How do you collect your seeds?  I've collected some but only a tiny little bit.  They are so tiny!
 
Violet Cabra
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Hi Trace, many thanks for this --- I'm delighted that the seeds reached you and that you are so enthusiastic to plant them!

Hi Jenny, the way that I collect the seeds is that I pick the flower heads after the flowers fall off and put the flower heads in a large piece of fabric, like a sheet.  I then gather the four corners of the sheet to make a large bundle with the flower heads in the center, and I smack the large bundle on the ground and with my fists to dislodge the seeds.  Then I gather the seeds on to a large dish or tupperware, and put them where they can dry.
 
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Hi Violet,
How generous of you and exactly what I've wanted to add to my pollinator area as well as its an amazing herb. How do we connect? Many thanks!
 
Violet Cabra
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Hi Yvonne,

Thank you for the kind words and your interest!  You can send me an email to violetcabra@gmail.com with an address with which you can receive mail, and I'll be happy to mail you some seeds this week
 
Angela Wilcox
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Violet, thank you so much for these delightful seeds! You packaged them so lovingly and carefully they arrived in fine form. I live off road and only get to check my mail infrequently, I so I apologize if this thank you message is delayed from your mailing this precious gift.

Do I need to cold stratify them before planting? I look so forward to seeing their sweet blossoms for the bees and leaves for tea. Blessings to you for your thoughtfulness!  I will share seeds with others as they mature.
 
Violet Cabra
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Hi Angela,

You're most welcome and thank you for the kind words and for sharing the seeds with others as they mature!  From my experience, I've gotten good results just planting the seeds out.
 
Angela Wilcox
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Okay, will do. Thanks!
 
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