Hi! I grew anise hyssop from some prairie moon seeds a few years ago expecting them to grow around 3 feet as the website says but they regularly go past 6 feet tall. I have them planted in a difficult area (very close to sycamore tree roots with soil that gets very wet in the spring and dry in the summer, sun/part shade with blasting sun late in the afternoon). I have one plant in part shade and another in full sun and both get really tall.
I love them because they have an incredibly long bloom time, and the bees love them, but they're WAY too tall for my garden.
Is it because they're in part shade?
by chihuahuabutter
9 Comments
Could be. Mine are part sun rather than full sun and I have given up and chop them down before they set buds.
Chelsea chop them!
I can’t edit the description but the one in part shade is a little taller/ flops over more than the one in full sun (but honestly not by much), so is light the issue here or does anise hyssop grow like this regularly and the website is wrong?
Have you considered the ‘Chelsea Chop’ in late May or early June? By cutting it back by 1/3 or half its size in late Spring; it can help manage its size and height dramatically…
I love my anise hyssop for the same reasons as you, and they’re gorgeous in the winter! Mine grow 5-6′ tall in mostly sun, fertile medium moisture soil. I think yours are just happy!
Cuz they are based af
Am I crazy or does that first pic look like horse mint and not hyssop ?
I generally trust Prairie Moon, but how sure are you that it’s anise hyssop and not giant hyssop?
If you’re super sure, then I’d say it’s a matter of environment or genetic variation.
It might be due to shade. Plants will grow taller and leggy if they need more light: they out energy into getting taller to outcompete other plants and get at that delicious sunshine.
lol this is peak reddit content right here, i’m living for it. can’t believe i wasted time reading this