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Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop (Golden Anise Hyssop) care

Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee'

Also called Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop, Golden Anise Hyssop.

RHS H6USDA 4–9Pet-safeIndoor 60–90 cm tall

Watering rhythm

7-10days

Every 7–10 days once established; more frequent for newly planted specimens

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Well-drained loam or sandy loam; pH 6.0–7.5

Humidity

35–65%

Temp

−20°C to 35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

60–90 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Full sun (6+ hours) is needed to maintain the characteristic golden foliage colour. In shade, leaves revert toward green and flowering is reduced. Afternoon shade in USDA zone 9+ can prevent leaf scorch. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for golden jubilee anise hyssop — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering golden jubilee anise hyssop: every 7–10 days once established; more frequent for newly planted specimens. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Moderately drought-tolerant once roots are established. Prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil. Waterlogged conditions promote root rot. Water at the base to reduce foliar disease risk.

Soil and pot

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop grows best in well-drained loam or sandy loam; ph 6.0–7.5. Performs well in average to moderately fertile, well-drained garden soil. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged sites. Adding compost to poor soils improves growth without causing excess lushness. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop sits happiest at around 35–65% humidity and −20°C to 35°C (−4°F to 95°F). Adaptable to a range of humidity levels. Ensure good air circulation, as dense plantings in humid conditions can invite powdery mildew late in the season. If you keep the room above −20°C to 35°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed golden jubilee anise hyssop sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Avoid excess nitrogen, which causes lush green growth at the expense of the golden leaf colour and flower production. A low-nitrogen formula (e.g. 5-10-10) is preferred. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on golden jubilee anise hyssop in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Powdery mildew — White powdery coating appears on foliage late in the season, particularly in humid conditions or crowded plantings. Improve air circulation by thinning nearby plants; cut back affected growth. Resistant to severe damage.
  • Loss of golden foliage colour — Leaves revert to greener tones in heavy shade or with excess nitrogen fertiliser. Ensure full sun placement and use a low-nitrogen feed to maintain the distinctive golden-chartreuse colouration.
  • Short-lived perennial — Agastache foeniculum can be short-lived in heavier soils or cold, wet winters. Ensure sharp drainage, avoid cutting back in autumn (stems protect the crown), and divide or propagate every 2–3 years to maintain stock.

Propagation

Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost at 18–21°C; surface sow as seeds need light to germinate. Divide clumps in spring. Take softwood cuttings in late spring. Self-seeds freely; seedlings may not reliably show golden foliage and should be selected for colour. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop is pet-safe. Agastache foeniculum is listed by ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats. The 'Golden Jubilee' cultivar shares the same non-toxic profile. The leaves are used as a culinary herb, and essential oils in large quantities may cause mild GI upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee'?

Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee' is most commonly called Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop, but it is also known as Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop, Golden Anise Hyssop. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop apply identically to anything sold as Golden Anise Hyssop.

How much light does golden jubilee anise hyssop need?

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun (6+ hours) is needed to maintain the characteristic golden foliage colour. In shade, leaves revert toward green and flowering is reduced. Afternoon shade in USDA zone 9+ can prevent leaf scorch.

How often should I water golden jubilee anise hyssop?

Water golden jubilee anise hyssop every 7–10 days once established; more frequent for newly planted specimens. Moderately drought-tolerant once roots are established. Prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil. Waterlogged conditions promote root rot. Water at the base to reduce foliar disease risk. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is golden jubilee anise hyssop toxic to cats and dogs?

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop is pet-safe. Agastache foeniculum is listed by ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats. The 'Golden Jubilee' cultivar shares the same non-toxic profile. The leaves are used as a culinary herb, and essential oils in large quantities may cause mild GI upset.

What USDA hardiness zone does golden jubilee anise hyssop grow in?

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop is rated for USDA zone 4–9 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop deep-dive guides

Every aspect of golden jubilee anise hyssop care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop qualifies for 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop is also commonly called Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop or Golden Anise Hyssop.