Native to the Southwest, anise hyssop is but one of several species of Agastache ideal for herb gardens that also must stand up to drought. Anise hyssop bears edible anise-scented leaves and pinkish-blue flowers, and thrives in strong sun that makes other plants wilt. Hardy to Zone 4 with winter mulch, anise hyssop forms well-behaved clumps that are best dug and divided every other year.

In addition to this species, new types of agastache are being introduced every year. One of the heaviest blooming of the group is a hybrid called ‘Blue Fortune’, hardy to Zone 6, which features 3-foot-tall spikes of pinkish blue flowers that hummingbirds love.

Hummingbirds also are drawn to the deep-orange blossoms of sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris), which sometimes is called root beer hyssop because of the scent of its leaves. Indeed, if you run across any plant labeled as an agastache at a garden center, it is worth a try as a hummingbird herb.

Barbara Pleasant lives in the mountains of western North Carolina, where she enjoys garden writing, cooking and luring hummingbirds to her garden.