Other Names:  Anise Hyssop, Licorice Mint, Hummingbird Mint

Group/Class:  Meant to Bee Series

Brand:  Proven Winners

Description:

Airy tubular spikes of rose-lilac flowers with burgundy calyces are accented by deep green, aromatic, licorice scented foliage; attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators; drought tolerant once established

Ornamental Features

Meant to Bee™ Royal Raspberry Hyssop features airy spikes of lightly-scented rose tubular flowers with lilac purple overtones and burgundy calyces rising above the foliage from mid summer to mid fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive fragrant narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Meant to Bee™ Royal Raspberry Hyssop is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Meant to Bee™ Royal Raspberry Hyssop is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Herb Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Meant to Bee™ Royal Raspberry Hyssop will grow to be about 28 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 28 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 6 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Meant to Bee™ Royal Raspberry Hyssop is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

In our experience, this plant is often able to survive in Zone 4 if given additional winter cover and specific cultural care. Please speak with Sargent’s sales staff to learn how to care for this plant.