Hyssop comes from the south and feels at home in full sun. Its frost resistance has allowed it to establish itself in the Central European climate. Hyssop was valued as a medicinal and aromatic herb as early as the Middle Ages.
Like other kitchen herbs, hyssop is sufficiently hardy
Hyssop is also called verbena or beeweed as well as vinegar, wine aspen or St. John's wort. Its botanical name is Hyssopus officinalis, it belongs to the mint family. Hyssop is distributed from southern Europe to western Asia. It grows as a subshrub on dry, stony soil. Hyssop flowers in bright blue from June to October. The flowers exude an intense, spicy fragrance that attracts all kinds of insects.
Hyssop in the garden
Growing hyssop in the garden is not difficult. It only needs a few things to thrive, including:
- sunny, sheltered location,
- calcareous, permeable soil,
- regular cut.
Other maintenance measures such as B. frequent watering or fertilizing are not required. Pruning is carried out immediately after flowering. The best time to do this is August to allow the plant to recover before the onset of winter. If you have missed this point in time, it is better to wait until spring with the cut. In very cold winters, the old branches provide adequate winter protection. In very mild winters these remain green. The cut is then carried out before the new shoots in March.
Hyssop on the balcony
For the cultivation of the Hyssopus officinalis on the balcony you need a sufficiently spacious tub, as the plant develops into a 30-60 cm tall shrub over time. In terms of location and care, the same rules apply as for outdoor cultivation. However, the potted plants - especially the young plants - should be given suitable protection in the event of permanent frost.
tips
The easiest way to propagate hyssop is by using seeds, which you can buy cheaply anywhere in the specialist trade. It should only be noted that the seeds are light germs.