Agastache foeniculum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644032dad9a9d022685401 |
| Scientific name | Agastache foeniculum |
| Authority | (Pursh) Kuntze |
| First published in | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 511 (1891) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Across North America, people have made hot infusions of the leaves and sometimes the aerial parts of Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop) to relieve cold symptoms and sore throats. The Blackfoot of the northern Plains recorded this use in the early 20th century; as described in Gunnar Nauck’s Indian Uses of Plants (reprinted 1918), a tea of the leaves was taken for colds and to soothe sore throats. The Cheyenne of the northern Great Plains also used infusions of the leaves in this way, noted by several collectors in the 1930s and summarized by Moerman (Native American Ethnobotany, 1998). On the Upper Great Lakes, the Ojibwe collected the herb locally and prepared leaf infusions for coughs, a practice recorded in the University of Michigan Ethnobotany Database (Moerman). A straightforward mild tea—3–4 g of fresh or 1–2 g of dried leaf, steeped for 7–10 minutes in 250 mL of near‑boiling water—reflects these recorded preparations. Adults may drink up to 1 cup two to three times daily for a few days; avoid concentrated use in pregnancy due to the presence of estragole (methyl chavicol) and essential oils, and keep essential oil and concentrated preparations away from children. A practical 1:5 ethanol tincture uses about 20 g of fresh leaf (or 10 g dried leaf) macerated in 100 mL of 45% ethanol for 2–3 weeks, shaking daily; a typical adult dose is 20–30 drops in water up to three times daily.
Phytochemistry that supports these uses is well documented for anise hyssop. The leaves and flowering tops are rich in essential oils rich in anethole and estragole, the same constituents that give fennel and star anise their characteristic aroma and warming actions; flavonoids such as luteolin, apigenin, and their glycosides; and phenolic acids including rosmarinic acid. These classes are antimicrobial, anti‑inflammatory, and gently carminative, consistent with the traditional use of the infusions for coughs and throat irritation.
Today, anise hyssop remains a local food and tea herb in the upper Midwest and Canada. Commercial teas and dried leaves are available from foragers and specialty growers, and it continues to be harvested in the wild by some Great Lakes communities who value its familiar flavor and comforting cold‑season brew.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Fresh and dried leaves are used as a culinary herb and natural flavoring. The foliage imparts a sweet, anise–licorice-like aroma and taste and is employed as a garnish or seasoning for desserts, salads, baked goods, and confections. In food applications it typically functions as a flavoring ingredient rather than as a bulk ingredient. The essential oil (main constituents include methyl chavicol/estragole and limonene) is used by the flavor industry to impart anise/licorice notes in foods and beverages. In beekeeping, the flowers provide nectar for honey production.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil is used by the fragrance industry in aromatic compositions and can be incorporated at low use levels into perfumes and related cosmetic or toiletry fragrance blends.
Properties relevant to use:
The leaf and flower volatile profile is dominated by phenylpropanoids (notably methyl chavicol/estragole) with significant limonene and smaller amounts of other monoterpenes (e.g., pulegone, menthone). These constituents confer a sweet, anise/licorice aroma suitable for food and fragrance flavoring roles. The high methyleugenol content in the oil has prompted regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions. For perfumes and flavors, commercial essential oil use levels are typically very low.
Standards and regulation:
Use as a food flavoring and in fragrance is governed by national and regional flavor/fragrance regulations. Jurisdictions such as the United States (FDA) and the European Union require that essential oils used in food and consumer products meet specified standards of identity and purity; labeling must disclose essential oil when used in cosmetic/toiletry fragrances. Where methyleugenol content is significant, maximum use levels may be restricted or an application dossier required.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Hyptis marathrosma | Benth. | Prodr. 12: 140 (1848) |
| Hyssopus anethiodorus | Nutt. | Cat. Pl. Upper Louisiana : 41 (1813) |
| Hyssopus anisatus | Nutt. | Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 27 (1818) |
| Hyssopus discolor | Desf. | Tabl. École Bot. , ed. 3: 97 (1829) |
| Hyssopus foeniculum | Spreng. | Novi Provent. : 24 (1818) |
| Lophanthus anisatus | Benth. | Edwards's Bot. Reg. 15: t. 1282 (1829) |
| Perilla marathrosma | hort. ex Spreng. | Novi Provent. : 24 (1818) |
| Stachys foeniculum | Pursh | Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 2: 407. 1813 [Dec 1813] |
| Vleckia albescens | Raf. | Autik. Bot. : 121 (1840) |
| Vleckia anethiodora | Greene | Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5: 282 (1894) |
| Vleckia anisata | Raf. | Fl. Tellur. 3: 89 (1837) |
| Vleckia bracteata | Raf. | New Fl. 4: 94 (1838) |
| Vleckia bracteosa | Raf. | Autik. Bot. : 120 (1840) |
| Vleckia discolor | Raf. | Autik. Bot. : 121 (1840) |
| Vleckia foeniculum | MacMill. | Metasp. Minnesota Valley : 449 (1892) |
| Vleckia incarnata | Raf. | Autik. Bot. : 120 (1840) |
| Agastache anethiodora | Britton & A.Brown | Fl. N. U.S. iii. 85. |
| Agastache foeniculum f. bernardii | B.Boivin | Naturaliste Canad. 87: 25 (1960) |
| Agastache foeniculum f. candicans | B.Boivin | Naturaliste Canad. 87: 26 (1960) |
| Lophanthus foeniculum | (Pursh) E.Mey. | Index Seminum (KALI, Regimontanum) 1831: 2 (1831) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | lavender giant-hyssop |
| English | anise hyssop |
| English | blue giant hyssop |
| Arabic | أغستاش شمري |
| chy | mo'éhemóxêšéne |
| Danish | indianermynte |
| German | anis-riesenysop |
| German | agastache anethiodora |
| German | duftnessel |
| Estonian | aniisi-hiidiisop |
| Persian | زوفای بزرگ معطر |
| Finnish | yrtti-iiso |
| Finnish | anisiiso |
| French | agastache anethiodora |
| French | anis hysope |
| French | grande hysope |
| French | hysope anisée |
| Hungarian | ánizsillatú izsópfű |
| Italian | agastache anethiodora |
| Italian | anice menta |
| Lithuanian | pankolinė kinmėtė |
| Lithuanian | anyžinis lofantas |
| Dutch | dropnetel |
| Russian | Многоколосник фенхельный |
| Swedish | anisisop |
| Ukrainian | лофант |
| Chinese | 香藿香 |
| Chinese | 蓝藿香 |
| Chinese | 莳萝藿香 |
| Chinese | 茴藿香 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| Requires Light or Surface Sowing: These seeds need light to germinate and should not be covered with soil or only very lightly. They are often very small and sown directly on the surface of the growing medium. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Europe click to expand
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Middle Europe
- Austria
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Middle Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Ontario
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Pennsylvania
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Washington
- Wyoming
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Delaware
- Kentucky
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Subarctic America
- Northwest Territorie
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000902466 |
| UNII | ZV7TA06J2V |
| Canadensys | 6351 |
| USDA Plants | AGFO |
| Tropicos | 17600007 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:6304-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-4454 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 281382 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1062003 |
| Observations.org | 160001 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 39269 |
| Nature Serve | 2.137289 |
| IPNI | 6304-2 |
| iNaturalist | 158076 |
| GBIF | 2926406 |
| Freebase | /m/0bbvdv1 |
| WisFlora | 2450 |
| EPPO | AJTFO |
| EOL | 579797 |
| Elurikkus | 208971 |
| USDA GRIN | 312121 |
| Wikipedia | Agastache_foeniculum |
| Plantarium | 49043 |
| PFAF | Agastache foeniculum |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_054883455.1 | Agastache_foeniculum_PCGL_v1.0 | Chromosome | Chungnam National University | 2026-01-30 | 87 | 460.05 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoyl derivatives | |||||
| 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde | 31244 | Click to see | 136.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| Benzaldehyde | 240 | Click to see | 106.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Methoxybenzenes / Dimethoxybenzenes | |||||
| Methyleugenol | 7127 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)CC=C)OC | 178.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles | |||||
| Anethole | 637563 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| Estragole | 8815 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Eugenol | 3314 | Click to see | 164.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons | |||||
| 4,4-Dimethylnonane | 53425988 | Click to see | 156.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Branched unsaturated hydrocarbons | |||||
| 3-Ethyl-2-methyloct-2-ene | 85682407 | Click to see CCCCCC(=C(C)C)CC | 154.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Octen-3-Ol | 18827 | Click to see | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| beta-OCIMENE, (3E)- | 5281553 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| Geraniol | 637566 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Linalool | 6549 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Myrcene | 31253 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| Camphene | 6616 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| Sabinol | 94147 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Menthone | 443159 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Limonene, (+/-)- | 22311 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C | 136.23 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| p-Menthan-3-one | 6986 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,4aR,8aS)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol | 5315594 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| (1R,4S,4aR)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol | 5315592 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| 4,12,12-Trimethyl-9-methylene-5-oxatricyclo(8.2.0.04,6)dodecane | 14350 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| alpha-Cadinol | 10398656 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Cadina-1(10),4-diene | 10223 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(=C2CC1)C)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Caryophyllene oxide | 1742210 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| delta-Cadinene | 441005 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| delta-Cadinol | 3084311 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Humulene | 5281520 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| I2-Ionone | 638014 | Click to see | 192.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1aS,4aS,7S,7aR,7bS)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-1a,2,3,4a,5,6,7a,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[h]azulen-7-ol | 97032059 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| (7aR)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-1a,2,3,4a,5,6,7a,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[h]azulen-7-ol | 5321422 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-diene | 91723653 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| Germacrene D | 5317570 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| Beta-Carotene | 5280489 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Xanthophylls | |||||
| Lutein A | 5281243 | Click to see | 568.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| Violaxanthin | 448438 | Click to see | 600.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| Zeaxanthin | 5280899 | Click to see | 568.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acid derivatives / Carboxylic acid esters | |||||
| 1-Octen-3-yl acetate | 17121 | Click to see | 170.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-2-[(2S,3S,4R,6S)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,6S)-4-hydroxy-6-[(2R,3R,4R,6S)-4-methoxy-6-[(2R,3S,4S,6R)-4-methoxy-2-methyl-6-[(1S,2R,7S,10R,11S,14R,15R,16R,19S)-10,14,16-trimethyl-17,20,21-trioxahexacyclo[14.4.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,19]henicos-4-en-7-yl]oxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-4-methoxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 15939579 | Click to see | 1055.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Aldehydes / Medium-chain aldehydes | |||||
| 2,2-Dimethylhexanal | 523230 | Click to see CCCCC(C)(C)C=O | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones | |||||
| 3-Octanone | 246728 | Click to see CCCCCC(=O)CC | 128.21 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700708 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698065 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Ethers / Dialkyl ethers | |||||
| 2-Methoxy-1-propanol | 14846 | Click to see | 90.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| CID 162977223 | 162977223 | Click to see | 416.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrapyrroles and derivatives / Chlorins | |||||
| methyl (21S,22S)-16-ethenyl-11-ethyl-12,17,21,26-tetramethyl-4-oxo-22-[3-oxo-3-[(E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-enoxy]propyl]-7,23,24,25-tetrazahexacyclo[18.2.1.15,8.110,13.115,18.02,6]hexacosa-1(23),2(6),5(26),7,9,11,13,15,17,19-decaene-3-carboxylate | 6326752 | Click to see | 871.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
| methyl (3R,21S,22S)-16-ethenyl-11-ethyl-12,17,21,26-tetramethyl-4-oxo-22-[3-oxo-3-[(E,7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-enoxy]propyl]-7,23,24,25-tetrazahexacyclo[18.2.1.15,8.110,13.115,18.02,6]hexacosa-1(23),2(6),5(26),7,9,11,13,15,17,19-decaene-3-carboxylate | 5459387 | Click to see | 871.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698114 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |