Anise Hyssop (Blue Fortune cultivar) and Anise Anistata

Cindi · February 24, 2008, 10:57:58 AM

I grow two types of Anise on my property. Anise Hyssop is a enormous plant, of which I take cuttings and they bloom later in the summer. I grew Anise Anistata from seed last year, and it bloomed prolifically too, I thought this cultivar was an annual, but the plants are still green and will grow. Bees are wild, and I mean wild over these heavy nectar producers that bloom from beginning of July until frost kill.

I have posted pictures of these plants before, but I thought I would show them again, to encourage my forum friends to grow these plants for your bees, if that is all possible, they are very drought resistant and require no care. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, love our life. Cindi

Anise Anistata, a kind of floppy plant

Anise Hyssop mother plant from a distance

Anise Hyssop young cuttings just starting to set bloom

Annise Hyssop mother plant (left), blooms nearing the end and young cutting plants in full blooming, which will carry on until frost kill

The bees on the Anise Hyssop, and there were hundreds more on the other part of the plants

JP · February 24, 2008, 11:01:58 AM

Thanks to this post I will be on a mission to purchase some seeds or the plant itself to add to my yard and perhaps the property. Is it a one season type plant? When do I plant it?

....JP

Cindi · February 24, 2008, 11:15:27 AM

Quote from: JP on February 24, 2008, 11:01:58 AM
Thanks to this post I will be on a mission to purchase some seeds or the plant itself to add to my yard and perhaps the property. Is it a one season type plant? When do I plant it?

....JP

JP, do not purchase the seed for the Anise Anistata cultivar, I have tons of seed gathered and I will send you some, PM me with your address and it will be there in a couple of days. You can sow the seed now, it will bloom in a few months. The picture of the Anistata was taken....hold on...let me look at the date....OK August 12 of last year, and the plant had been blooming for some time already. I am going to check my sowing date for the seed now. Remember, sowing from seed takes patience, it would be at least a month or more before the seedlings are large enough to set outside. But maybe too, that would be temperature dependent. You are in a much more warm climate than myself. Seeds that I germinate I don't set out as plants until the beginning of May. I am checking my calendar of seeding dates....hold on....March 11 of last year is when I sowed the seeds. So that would be approximately 4 months to August when I took the picture. It may hasten flowering at your place. Do not cover the seeds, keep them moist, they will germinate with the light upon them.

These plants are what are called perennials, they will be in your garden every year from the same plant. The Anistata I did not cut back to ground level, as I do to the Anise Hyssop. I just left the Anistata to grow.

The Anise Hyssop you will need to go to a nursery to get young plants. I would presume they are available where you live. Phone around to nurseries.

Good luck. If you have any further questions, I more than likely can help you out, so can Ann (Rienbow), she is excellent with horticultural stuff too. Have the most beautiful and wonderful day, love life. Cindi

JP · February 24, 2008, 11:39:40 AM

I will check my local nurseries cause it would be too expensive for you to send me seeds. You are too kind to offer though! Thanks for the information, I am excited to plant these wonderful plants, will look much better too than the tall weeds I got growing next to the hive enclosure, lol. Just had a thought for a good bumper sticker for plant growing types " Friends Don't Let Friends Grow Weeds". lol

....JP

Cindi · February 24, 2008, 12:12:52 PM

JP, as you wish, but remember, the seeds weigh next to nothing and the cost of a US stamp is 96 cents. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, beautiful life. Cindi

JP · February 24, 2008, 12:32:40 PM

If you don't mind spending the buck, I would love some, and every time they bloom I'll think of you Cindi!!! This reminds me of a funny story about my Dad when he was in Jamaica. There was this guy that my Dad said was very hip and smart, he didn't miss a lick, took in and absorbed everything, that He and my brother befriended, anyway, at some point he told my Dad that if my Dad was to give him his shoes, everytime he wore them, he would think of my Dad! My Dad didn't give in and before they left my Dad told him that every time He wore those shoes He would be thinking of this guy! The guy saw that my Dad was playing him at his own game and they had a laugh on that one, but seriously Cindi, if you were to send me some of those seeds, when they bloom I will be thinking of you!!!! ;) And thank you!!!

Sincerely, JP

....Oh and could you include a duck in the package. :-D :-D :-D :-D

Cindi · February 24, 2008, 12:37:32 PM

JP, cute little story about your Dad, nice. It is nice to give to people. I have many little things that are around my house, little gifts from people, each and every one tells a story and a memory, that is the beautiful of the gift. I am sorry JP, can't send a duck, only the thought of those wonderful duck dinners.....and thinking of you drooling over the food.

PM me with your address and I will send them tomorrow. Today I am off now to go and play outside in the chickenyard, finishing a fence and giving more pollen patty to my bees, the sun is still shinin' and a glorious day coming on
. Have the most beautiful and wonderful day, great life. Cindi

JP · February 24, 2008, 12:46:06 PM

I pmed you my info. Say hello to the ducks for me. And thank you very much Cindi, I am looking forward to getting those seeds!!!!!

....JP

johnnybigfish · February 24, 2008, 01:27:07 PM

Hey Cindi!
Is Anise Hyssop the same Hyssop that is mentioned at the crucifixion?
your friend,
john

reinbeau · February 24, 2008, 01:32:27 PM

Quote from: johnnybigfish on February 24, 2008, 01:27:07 PM
Hey Cindi!
Is Anise Hyssop the same Hyssop that is mentioned at the crucifixion?
your friend,
john

It's the same genus, but not the same species or variety.

KONASDAD · February 24, 2008, 03:19:10 PM

amazing bee plant. Last long and they love it. Also, russian sage is just as good and lasts through tough droughts as well.

BEH · February 24, 2008, 04:57:19 PM

Oh! Oh! Me too! I would like some seeds too please. Maybe we can arrange a trade. ;) I will PM you.

I noticed the bumblebees last year loved my Confederate Jasmine (also called star jasmine) it is a vine that blooms off and on thru the summer here. All the bees, be they hover, bumble or honey, seem to like English Lavender, Rosemary, and thyme. These bloomed pretty much continuously in my garden last year.
I dont have it now, unfortunately, but I used to have a plant called "Black and Blue Sage" and there were always bees around it also. It has black buds that open to beautiful deep blue flowers.

Cindi your garden is so beautiful! What a lovely view of your hives

johnnybigfish · February 24, 2008, 05:16:22 PM

Theres a certain jasmine plant that produces a poisonous honey. I think it may be the carolina jasmine or star jasmine. does anybody remeber which one?
your friend,
john

annette · February 24, 2008, 05:45:09 PM

I hope it is not the star jasmine. I think that is the jasmine planted on my friends property near the bee hives. The bees loved it.

reinbeau · February 24, 2008, 06:08:04 PM

Quote from: johnnybigfish on February 24, 2008, 05:16:22 PM
Theres a certain jasmine plant that produces a poisonous honey. I think it may be the carolina jasmine or star jasmine. does anybody remeber which one?
your friend,
john

That is Carolina Jessamine, beautiful vine, but not good for honey, or bees. From the link:

QuoteAll parts of this plant are poisonous. The sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Children can be poisoned by sucking the nectar from the flowers. Insects or diseases rarely trouble Carolina Jessamine. Deer will not eat it.

Gotta wonder what pollinates it! :shock:

BEH · February 24, 2008, 06:51:16 PM

Thanks for the link Reinbeau. I was glad to see the Jessamine looks nothing like my jasmine. Plants are always getting mis identified because of common regional names and sometimes you don't know what you really have. MY Confererate Jasmine has woody vines and thick, almost sucullent leaves, with white buds that spiral open to white stars about a dime in diameter. Very fragrant.

johnnybigfish · February 24, 2008, 07:34:47 PM

Golly Annette, Sure sorry about giving you all these scares in one day!
First it was the Cinnamon/cassia issue, then i hit you with "Killer Jasmine"!
I'll try to give you a happy post....
I think that you are the most colorful person Ive seen here in the forums! I even told my wife that she should get a parasol just like yours to walk around in when she's outside!
Yep,...Me in my monk robe and her in her parasol!!
Thats good news about the jasmine though huh?
Thanks alot Reinbeau!!
your friend,
john

annette · February 24, 2008, 08:06:41 PM

John

Thanks for that compliment on the parasol. Believe it or not, the reason I have the parasol is I had a bout with skin cancer a few years ago. Doctors said to stay out of the sun and it is very, very sunny out here. So since I am not really a hat person (crushes the hair you know) I went out and bought a few pretty parasols. I have 3 now but am always on the lookout for new ones. I use them every day in the summer when it gets hot.

I am not afraid of the cinnamon or the jasmine, now that we have uncovered the truth about them. Good news indeed.

Thanks,
Annette

2-Wheeler · February 25, 2008, 12:37:24 AM

Cindi,
That Anise Hyssop looks wonderful and what a great garden! Hyssop varieties also do very well here in Colorado. I'm going to have to get some of that too.

It looks very similar to what we call Blue Salvia, but I've seen it labeled as "Blue Anise Sage". The bees love this stuff too, and it will often re-bloom if you cut it after the first blooming. This shot was taken June 1st, but the second blooming is in late summer.

Flickr Photo Page

Angi_H · February 25, 2008, 01:08:04 AM

ohhh Cindi I would love some seed as I am planting my entire side of my house for the bees. Oh and I need to get my digital camera fixed so I can go out and take pictures of my new Muscovy Ducks. I now have 5 gals and one male of the black ones. And 20 eggs due in about a week and half.
Do you still have my addy.

Angi