About Hyssopus officinalis L.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) is a brightly colored shrub or subshrub that grows 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) tall. Its stem is woody at the base, and grows a number of upright branches. Its leaves are lanceolate, dark green, and measure 2 to 2.5 cm (3⁄4 to 1 in) long. In summer, hyssop produces fragrant flowers that are pink, blue (found in subspecies aristadus), or more rarely white (found in the white form subspecies f. albus). After flowering, hyssop produces small oblong tetra-achenes. In cultivation, hyssop is drought-resistant, and tolerates chalky and sandy soils. It grows best in full sun and warm climates. One known cultivar is 'Blue Flower'. In herbal medicine, hyssop is considered to have soothing, expectorant, and cough suppressant properties. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to increase circulation and treat conditions including coughing and sore throat. It can also stimulate the gastrointestinal system.
