Hyssop-leaved thoroughwort is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family ( Asteraceae) native to the eastern and central United States. It is native to dry, sandy or gravelly woods, fields, salt meadows and disturbed areas. The plant grows in full sun to partial shade in a variety of well-drained soils but does best in dry, sandy soils. It is tolerant of drought, deer, salt and urban conditions. Hyssop-leaved thoroughwort will grow 1-3 feet tall with a 1-2 foot spread with a clumping habit. It spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds. Deadhead after flowering if self-seeding is not desirable. Otherwise, leave the seedhead on through winter for the birds. Flowering occurs from summer to fall with abundant clusters of small tubular disc flowers and no ray florets. They are magnets for pollinators. The leaves are narrow and grass-like and occur in whorls of 4 along the purplish stems giving it a fine texture. Use this plant in naturalized areas such as meadows and fields. It can also be used in the pollinator garden and planted in difficult areas of the yard such as dry slopes and dry sandy areas. It pairs well with native grasses and is attractive blowing in the wind among them. Add some tall yellow flowers and you have a lovely naturalized area. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Plant leaves are narrow, usually in whorls of three or four. The leaves are sometimes slightly toothed but ususally entire and tend to cluster in the axis. The leaf margin is often rolled inward. Leaves are 3/4 to 2 inches long and sessile (stemless)
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The plant produces abundant white tubular disc flowers and no rays in a dense, flat-topped cluster. that can be 5-10 inches across.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Seeds with slender white pappus hairs
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Dark purple or brown stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and central USA
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Attracts bees, butterflies and birds. Host plant for Clymene moth.