Agastache fennel (Agastache foeniculum), proposed by Akène
🌿 An aromatic, melliferous and medicinal perennial plant 🌿
Agastache fennel is an aromatic perennial plant native to North America, valued as much for its beauty as for its culinary and medicinal uses . Its serrated green foliage gives off an aniseed scent reminiscent of fennel, and its long spikes of lavender-purple flowers , in bloom from June to September , attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds .
🌱 Easy to grow and hardy , it thrives in well-drained, dry to moderately moist soils and thrives in full sun . Deer resistant and drought tolerant , it is ideal for naturalistic gardens, honey-producing arrangements and edible borders .
Characteristics of the variety
📅 Flowering : June to September
📏 Height : 100 cm
🌱 Spacing : 35 cm
☀️ Exposure : Sun, partial shade
🌿 Life cycle : Perennial
🌾 Soil type : Sandy to loamy, rich, well drained
💧 Soil moisture content : Medium to slightly moist
🦌 Deer Resistance : High
📦 Seeds per packet : 200
Sowing and cultivation
📏 Sowing depth : Surface (seeds need light to germinate)
🌡 Germination time : 10 to 30 days
❄️ Cold stratification : 10 days
⚡ Scarification : Not required
🔹 Indoor method (for optimal germination) :
1️⃣ Mix the seeds with three parts moist vermiculite and place them in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for 10 days .
2️⃣ After stratification, lightly press the seeds onto the surface of well-drained potting soil, without covering them.
3️⃣ Keep the substrate moist until germination (10 to 30 days).
4️⃣ Transplant the young plants to the garden after the last frosts , when they have at least 4 leaves .
🔹 Outdoor method :
🌿 Sow directly in late May in well-drained soil.
💦 Water lightly until plants are established .
🌱 Once mature, agastache fennel reseeds itself and requires little maintenance .
Medicinal and culinary uses
🍵 A herb with many uses
The leaves and flowers of agastache fennel are edible and are used:
- 🌿 In infusion : Soothing herbal tea against coughs and digestive disorders.
- 🍽 In the kitchen : The leaves replace tarragon or fennel in dishes and salads.
- 🍰 For dessert : Infused in creams or incorporated into pastries for a touch of anise.
Ecological roles and utilities
🐝 A pollinator magnet : Very popular with bees, hummingbirds and butterflies .
🌾 An exceptional honey plant : Produces abundant nectar for local wildlife.
💧 Drought Tolerant : Suitable for dry gardens and more arid climates .
🦌 A natural deer repellent : Its powerful aroma keeps them at bay.
Companion plants
🌿 Echinacea, monarda, rudbeckia, lemon balm
Enemy plants
🌿 None known
Why grow agastache fennel?
🌸 A long and melliferous flowering
🍵 An aromatic herb with medicinal and culinary virtues
🌾 Easy to grow, deer resistant and drought tolerant
🐝 An asset for biodiversity and a magnet for pollinators
🌿 Add Agastache Fennel to your garden to combine beauty, flavor and ecological usefulness!
