50 Seeds-Hyssop Plant Seeds/ Hyssopus Officinalis/ Medicinal and Beneficial Evergreen Perennial/P052
Hyssop is a strong-flavoured aromatic herb similar to rosemary or lavender which is enjoying a revival with home gardeners.
It is an ideal plant for use in containers or as a low hedge or border within the herb garden, it makes an excellent and more unusual alternative to box and can be clipped to shape in the same way in spring. Hyssopus officinalis seeds, organic. Woody perennial evergreen subshrub native to the mediterranean and one of the more northern hardy of the mediterranean plants. This is a classic herb used in knot gardens and for low hedging. Can be readily shaped and is quite lovely in flower.
Pollinators love Hyssop flowers, and in mid-summer there are many spikes of violet-blue flowers. Grow Hyssop herb plants in the herb garden where they can be pruned into a nice hedge.
In cooking, use the same way you would Rosemary. It should be used sparingly as the flavour is very strong. Young leaves can be used chopped and scattered on salads, sprinkled on meat or oily fish dishes or used to flavour soups, stews and fruit dishes.
Tea is brewed using the green tops of the plant. The infusion has an agreeable flavour and is said to help aid digestion of fatty or rich food. It is also excellent for chesty coughs. Externally it can be applied to bruises, to reduce the swelling and discolouration. The essential oil is an antiseptic.
Hyssop is also used as an ingredient in Eau de Cologne, and in the distillation of liqueurs, such as Chartreuse. It is widely used as a 'taste enhancing' herb in Absinthe, along with Wormwood, Fennel, and Anise. The Hyssop herb is an aromatic plant, and the young leaves are somewhat bitter and minty in flavor. A widely used culinary herb, both the flowers and leaves are used in salads although the leaves are much stronger in flavor. It is also used to flavor pork, chicken, soups, teas and stuffing. Hyssop is also considered to be a medicinal herb, with the oil obtained from the leaves used to make herbal baths and facials.
It famously attracts bees, hover-flies and butterflies, and is a must for any wildflower garden. The plants make excellent honey, some beekeepers rub the hive with it to encourage the bees to keep to their home.
The plants are easy to grow and succeed best in a warm aspect and in a light, rather dry soil. The plants benefit from pruning occasionally, but do not need much further attention.
Growing Hyssop Seeds:
How To Grow Hyssop From Herb Seeds: After danger of frost has passed, start the Hyssop seeds directly outdoors. Cover the herb seeds lightly with soil and keep moist until germination. The Hyssop plants require little maintenance except for pruning occasionally and removing the spent flower heads. Harvest just before the flowers begin to open. Tie bunches of stems together, hang upside down in a warm, well ventilated room. After drying, remove the leaves and flowers and store in airtight containers. Cut the plants back to 8 inches in the fall.
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 3 - 9
Height: 24 inches
Bloom Season: Mid summer to early fall
Bloom Color: Blue
Environment: Full sun
Soil Type: Light, dry, rocky, well-drained soil, pH 6.7 - 7.5
Temperature: 68 F (20 C)
Average Germ Time: 7 - 14 days
Light Required: No
Depth: 1/4 inch
Sowing Rate: 3 - 4 seeds per plant
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 12 - 24 inches