Hyssopus officinalis

Plant Family

Lamiaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Hyssopus officinalis

Photo by: JAMES H. SCHUTTE

Plant Common Name

Common Hyssop, True Hyssop

General Description

Slender, leafy spikes of soft lavender-pink to lavender-blue flowers appear above true hyssop's fine, aromatic leaves in summer and autumn. Native to southern Europe, it is a low, bushy, semi-evergreen subshrub that is commonly grown as a perennial. Its lightly fragrant flowers and foliage were once valued for herbal remedies in old Europe.

True hyssop has very small, fine, medium green leaves. From midsummer to early autumn, it produces a modest display of leafy, upright stems lined with small, lavender-pink or lavender-blue flowers. Each small blossom is funnel-shaped with two lips. The flowers irresistible to bees and may even draw the occasional butterfly.

Grow hyssop in full sun and average, well-drained soil that is neutral to alkaline. The plants can withstand some drought once established. Pruning is best done in mid-spring. It takes well to hard pruning and shearing and can be clipped and shaped for edging and parterres. Hyssop self-sows, though not too aggressively. Grow this charming plant in any sunny garden space.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  9 - 5

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  6 - 9

• Sunset Zone

  1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

• Plant Type

  Herb

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m

• Width

  2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

• Bloom Time

  Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

• Native To

  Europe, Southern Europe, Turkey

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Neutral, Alkaline

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Loam, Sand

• Growth Rate

  Medium

• Water Requirements

  Drought Tolerant, Average Water

• Habit

  Oval/Rounded

• Seasonal Interest

  Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  Pink, Lavender, Blue Violet

• Fruit Color

  Tan

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Green

• Bark Color

  Sandy Brown

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  Yes

• Fragrant Foliage

  Yes

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  Yes

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  No

• Foliage Texture

  Fine

• Foliage Sheen

  Matte

• Evergreen

  Semi-Evergreen

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Smooth

• Usage

  Container, Edging, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Self-Sowing

  Yes