Hyssopus officinalis

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Hyssopus officinalis
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:7
Soil pH:6.6-8.4
Evergreen Self Pollinated
Height:2'
Width:2'
Blooms:Mid Summer-Early Fall
Native to:
Shelter
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Hyssopus officinalis (common name: hyssop)

Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Very easy, the seed germinates quickly. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7 cm with a heel, June/July in a frame[1][2]. Fairly easy, the cuttings root quite quickly. Grow on the plants in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in late spring.

Cuttings of greenwood, 5 - 7 cm with a heel, April/May in a frame[3]. Plant out in the summer.

Division in spring or autumn[3][4].

Cultivation: Prefers a light, dry calcareous soil and a sunny position[3][5][6][7].

A very cold-hardy plant, when dormant it can tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[8].

Hyssop has very aromatic leaves and is commonly grown in the herb garden where it makes a good edging plant to a border[4]. There are some named varieties[9]. The plant needs to be trimmed regularly to keep it in shape, untrimmed plants will soon degenerate. Spring is the best time to trim the plants[10]. It is probably best to replace the plants every few years. The flowers have a rich aromatic fragrance[11].

Hyssop is a very good plant for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden[4][12]. It is a good companion plant to grow with grapes, but it grows badly with radishes[5][13][12].

Range: Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain.

Habitat: Old walls and buildings, stony places[14][15]. Dry hills and rock ledges to 2200 metres in Turkey[8].

Edibility: Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or used as a flavouring in soups, salads etc[4][5][9]. A strongly aromatic flavour, somewhat like a cross between sage and mint, it has fallen out of favour in recent years[4][10]. It can be used fresh or dried[16].

Flowers - raw. Added to salads[9].

An essential oil from the plant is used as a food flavouring[9].

Medicinal: Hyssop has a long history of medicinal use and was so highly esteemed in the past that it was considered to be a virtual cure-all[17]. Currently an undervalued herb, it is often used as a household remedy, particularly as an expectorant and stomach tonic[4][17]. It has a positive effect when used to treat bronchitis and respiratory infections, especially where there is excessive mucous production[17]. Hyssop can irritate the mucous membranes, so it is best given after an infection has peaked, when the herb's tonic action encourages a general recovery[17]. The plant should not be used by pregnant women, however, since in large quantities it can induce a miscarriage[18].

The leaves and flowering tops are antiseptic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, pectoral, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[4][18][14][16][19][10]. The plant can be harvested when in full flower and dried for later use[4]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of flatulence, stomach-aches, upper respiratory tract infections, coughs in children etc[20][10]. A poultice made from the fresh herb is used to heal wounds[4][10].

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Stability'[21]. This oil should not be used on people who are highly strung as it can cause epileptic symptoms[18][17]. The essential oil should not be used internally except under professional supervision[17].

Usage: Hyssop can be grown as a dwarf hedge, it responds well to trimming in the spring[5][7][22].

The growing plant attracts cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas[5][13][12]. Another report says that hyssop attracts cabbage white butterflies and should not be grown near cabbages[23].

An essential oil from the leaves is antiseptic and also used in perfumery and as a food flavouring[24][23]. It has a particularly fine odour and is much valued by perfumers[4]. Average yields of the oil are about 0.6%[18]. Yields from the blue-flowered variety are 1 - 1.5% essential oil, the red-flowered variety yields about 0.8%, whilst the white-flowered form yields 0.5% essential oil[25].

The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[4][24] and is also used in pot-pourri[11].

A tea made from the leaves is useful for controlling bacterial plant diseases[23].

Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[26].

Pollinators: Bees

Notes: One for the sunnier parts of the garden, either the edible flower bed or by the road.

Easily obtained from seed.

Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

In Leaf: Evergreen

Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Links

References

  1. ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  2. ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
  15. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  19. ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  20. ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  21. ↑ Westwood, Christine. Aromatherapy - A Guide for Home Use. Amberwood Publishing, 1993.
  22. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  25. ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
  26. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.


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