Hyssopus officinalis Seeds | Hyssop
LATIN NAME: Hyssopus officinalis
COMMON NAME: Hyssop, Common Hyssop
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis is an upright, bushy, evergreen shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to warm regions of the Mediterranean and the middle east, while it has been cultivated in gardens for a very long time. At maturity it stands about Sixty centimetres. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the mint family, Hyssopus officinalis draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Hyssop has a real and distinguished place in research. Centuries of cultivation have left a detailed record of how it grows and behaves.
Uses & Benefits
Hyssop brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Hyssop is an upright, aromatic shrub of sunny, dry garden and herb border, bearing spikes of small, blue, two-lipped flowers in the summer. Its flowers feed bees and butterflies, and its bushy, evergreen growth gives a fine structure in herb garden and rockery, while its tolerance of poor, dry soil makes it a valuable plant for sunny, well-drained garden. To raise hyssop, sow seeds on surface of pots of gritty, open soil in a sunny, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little shrubs on in the sun. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
Hyssop is an ancient cleansing herb of biblical fame, its cineole-rich leaves a traditional remedy for coughs and chest colds; it is official in European herbals and a fine bee plant.
Growing from Seed
Hyssop is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray bright light. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
As an upright, bushy, evergreen shrub, it settles into a routine quickly once established. Once established, Hyssop, Common Hyssop largely looks after itself. Fresh seed sown into evenly moist compost is most of the battle won.
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