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anise hyssop

anise hyssop

9.0
A garden herb with sweet-smelling leaves used for tea and to attract bees
  • noun
  • /ˈænɪs ˈhɪsəp/
  • US
translation icon : hisopo de anís
  • This new plant, a relative of anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), is a compact grower, reaching about 2 feet.

Examples

  • The garden was filled with fragrant herbs, including anise hyssop, which added a delightful scent to the air.

  • In herbal teas, anise hyssop is often used for its sweet, aromatic flavor and pleasant aroma.

  • She planted anise hyssop among the other herbs to attract pollinators and enhance the garden's fragrance.

Synonyms

Agastache foeniculum
vsanise hyssop
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American herb with many branches and a smell like fennel, used in gardens and for tea

is the common everyday name rather than the formal scientific label

Surface Forms

anise hyssop singular
anise hyssops plural

Morphology

anise + hyssop

The compound names a plant that combines properties of its constituents: 'hyssop' (an aromatic herb) qualified by 'anise' (an anise-like scent/flavor). This is a descriptive botanical compound and follows transparent noun-noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it refers to a hyssop with anise-like fragrance.

Etymology

Anise hyssop gets its name from the plant's smell and an older herb people knew: its leaves give a sweet 'licorice' scent like anise, and early gardeners compared it to hyssop because of its smell and how people used it. That's why the name helps you remember it is a fragrant herb often used in 'tea' and gardens.