Rosablühender Ysop 'Roseus'

Season Overview

Description

Hyssop (Hyssopus) is a semi-shrub in the labiate family (Lamiaceae). It has been known as fragrant hyssop, bee herb, verbena, true hyssop, St. Joseph's wort and numerous other names since time immemorial. Hyssop has been cultivated as a spice and medicinal plant since the 16th century, especially in southern Europe. Today, hyssop is grown commercially in France, Hungary and Holland. Hyssop comes from the Hebrew and means "holy herb". The aromatic plant is similar to lavender in its growth and use. It is one of the typical representatives of Mediterranean shrub plants. The hyssop genus consists of five subspecies that are native to different regions. Distribution Hyssop is a plant of the Mediterranean climate region. It is found in many areas in southern Europe, in western Asia as far as Iran and in North Africa. As a neophyte, there are also occurrences of hyssop bushes on Lake Geneva, in the Hegau region and in southern, lower Alpine areas. Leaf The almost needle-like leaves of hyssop are opposite on short shoots. They are up to five centimetres long and around one centimetre wide. They are stalkless or semi-stalkless. The leaf shapes range from short pointed to blunt, with a smooth leaf edge. The surface is bare or hairy. There are oil glands on both sides of the leaf. They secrete a strongly fragrant, aromatic odor. Flowering Hyssop plants flower from July to October. They have spike-shaped inflorescences with five-petaled flowers. Their bright blue or purple color is characteristic. In rare cases, there are white or pink flowers. The flowers are arranged in groups of four to 16 at the end of the stem. The flowers have linear bracts. They are pointed at the front and have awns in some species. The corollas are sometimes over a centimeter long, they are two-lipped and funnel-shaped. The lower lip sticks out, the upper lip is upright. The center of the flower consists of four stamens that protrude from the flower. There are also white or purple stamens, an upper ovary and pistils. Fruit After flowering, hyssop plants form four triangular and egg-shaped sub-fruits. They are around two millimeters long. Growth Hyssop grows up to 70 centimeters tall. The plants grow as perennials or bushy dwarf shrubs. They have upright, strongly branched stems with exfoliating bark. Some species have creeping branches. The stems are thin, square and slightly hairy. Its deep roots are typical of hyssop. The plant is not reliably hardy. Use Hyssop has been cultivated as a medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plant since the Middle Ages. As with lavender, the young leaves can be finely chopped and added to vegetables or salads. In Mediterranean cuisine, they are used in marinades, fillings or meat and fish dishes. In France, the leaves are used in herbal liqueurs. The leaves are used in perfume and oil production due to their strong fragrance. Hyssop has long been used medicinally, both dried and fresh, for its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.

Growing tips

🌿 Sowing & planting Sowing - Can be sown directly outdoors from May. - Alternatively: Pre-cultivation from March/April. Planting - Spacing: approx. 25-30 cm (note semi-shrub form). - Combines well with roses, Mediterranean herbs and drought-loving perennials. 🌞 Location & soil Hyssop loves sun, warmth and dryness. - Full sun, warm, sheltered from the wind - Well-drained, rather dry soil, no waterlogging - Calcareous / slightly alkaline preferred - Ideal for: Herb spiral (Mediterranean zone), rock garden, dry bed. 💧 Care - Very easy to care for, needs little water. - Only water during long periods of drought. - No heavy, wet soil → root rot possible. - Light pruning after flowering keeps the plant compact. - Hardy, but light protection is advisable in the first year. 🦠 Diseases - Flower wilt (environmental) - Root rot (waterlogging) - Fungal diseases (leaf spot, gray mold) 🐞 Pests - Snails (rare) - Caterpillars, leaf beetles (rare) - Aphids (occasionally) ✅ Good neighbors Hyssop loves dry, sunny, calcareous conditions - so plants that like the same conditions and do not proliferate are suitable. - Thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano / dost, savory, marjoram - Bush beans - Onions, garlic, shallots - Parsnips, carrots - Beet, radishes ⚠️ Bad neighbors - Mint (proliferating, moisture-loving) - Lemon balm (spreads rapidly, other moisture requirements) - Basil (likes nutrient-rich & moist → opposite of hyssop) - Parsley, dill, fennel, chervil, caraway (umbelliferous plants, sensitive to aromatic herbs) - Lovage (strong-growing, shades hyssop) - Chives, leeks (moisture-loving, other soil requirements) - Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkin, celery, potatoes (moisture-loving, heavy feeders) - Lettuce, chard, spinach (moisture-loving) 🐝 Benefits & special features - Strongly aromatic, spicy-bitter → use sparingly. - Repels slugs and snails thanks to its intense fragrance. - Very bee-friendly (hence the name bee herb). - Perennial and long-lasting. 🌼 Harvest - Leaves and shoot tips are most aromatic before flowering. - Flowers can also be used (decoration, tea). - Pruning promotes new shoots.

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Light germinator

Germination temperature

18 - 22 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm