Companion Planting with Anise Hyssop: A Guide

The Benefits of Companion Planting with Anise Hyssop

If you're looking for a way to improve the health and productivity of your garden, consider companion planting with anise hyssop. This herb has a number of benefits for other plants, including:

- Attracting Beneficial Insects: Anise hyssop is known for its attractive purple flowers, which are a favorite of bees and butterflies. When you plant anise hyssop alongside other crops, you'll encourage these helpful pollinators to visit your garden.
- Repelling Harmful Pests: The strong scent of anise hyssop can help to mask the scent of other plants, making it more difficult for pests like aphids and cabbage worms to find their prey.
- Improving Soil Health: Anise hyssop is a member of the mint family, which means it has deep roots that can break up compacted soil and improve drainage. It also adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

How to Companion Plant with Anise Hyssop

Now that you know why anise hyssop makes such a great companion plant, let's take a look at how to incorporate it into your garden. Here are a few tips to get you ed:

Choose Complementary Crops

When choosing crops to plant alongside anise hyssop, look for ones that have similar growing conditions and complement its flavor profile. Good choices include:

- Tomatoes: Anise hyssop helps to repel the tomato hornworm, while tomatoes benefit from the herb's ability to improve soil health.
- Cabbage: The strong scent of anise hyssop can help to deter cabbage worms, while the herb's deep roots help to break up compacted soil.
- Grapes: Anise hyssop attracts beneficial insects that can help to control grape pests like thrips and spider mites.

Plant in the Right Location

Anise hyssop prefers full sun and well-drained soil, so make sure to plant it in a spot that gets plenty of light and has good drainage. You can also plant anise hyssop in pots or containers if you don't have enough space in your garden.

Use Companion Planting Techniques

To get the most out of companion planting with anise hyssop, use techniques like intercropping and crop rotation. Intercropping involves planting different crops together in the same bed, while crop rotation involves moving crops to different areas of your garden each year to avoid soil-borne diseases.

The Best Anise Hyssop Companion Plants

Now that you know how to companion plant with anise hyssop, let's take a closer look at some of the best plants to pair with this fragrant herb.

Tomatoes

As mentioned earlier, tomatoes make a great companion for anise hyssop. In addition to repelling the tomato hornworm, anise hyssop can also improve the flavor and yield of your tomatoes.

How to Plant:

Plant anise hyssop alongside your tomato plants, spacing them about 18 inches apart. Make sure to give your tomatoes plenty of room to grow, as they can become quite large.

Care Tips:

Water your tomato and anise hyssop plants regularly, and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Prune your tomato plants regularly to promote better air circulation and prevent disease.

Cabbage

Cabbage is another good choice for companion planting with anise hyssop. The strong scent of the herb can help to deter cabbage worms, while the deep roots of anise hyssop improve soil health.

How to Plant:

Plant anise hyssop alongside your cabbage plants, spacing them about 12 inches apart. Make sure to give your cabbage plenty of room to grow, as they can become quite large.

Care Tips:

Water your cabbage and anise hyssop plants regularly, and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Keep an eye out for signs of cabbage worm damage, and remove any affected leaves immediately.

Grapes

Grapes are a great choice for companion planting with anise hyssop because they both benefit from the presence of beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

How to Plant:

Plant anise hyssop around the perimeter of your grape vines, spacing them about 2 feet apart. Make sure to give your grapes plenty of room to climb, as they can grow quite tall.

Care Tips:

Water your grapes and anise hyssop plants regularly, and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Keep an eye out for signs of grape pests like thrips and spider mites, and use natural pest control methods to keep them under control.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is anise hyssop?

Anise hyssop is a fragrant herb that is native to North America. It has purple flowers and a licorice-like flavor.

2. How do I use anise hyssop in cooking?

Anise hyssop can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes, including teas, salads, and roasted meats.

3. Can anise hyssop be grown indoors?

Yes, anise hyssop can be grown indoors in pots or containers as long as it gets plenty of light and good drainage.

4. How often should I water my anise hyssop plants?

Anise hyssop prefers well-drained soil, so make sure to water it only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

5. What are some other good companion plants for anise hyssop?

Other good companion plants for anise hyssop include basil, chamomile, and marigolds.



Companion planting with anise hyssop is a great way to improve the health and productivity of your garden. By attracting beneficial insects, repelling harmful pests, and improving soil health, anise hyssop can help your other crops thrive. So why not give it a try? Your garden (and your taste buds) will thank you!