Anise

What Anise is

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an annual herb of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an annual herb native to the Mediterranean. Do not confuse this anise seed with star anise (Illicium verum), which is actually a tree native to southern China.

Although their use and flavour are similar, they are not the same plant and are not from the same family. Anise is mainly a host plant, but like many herbs, the nectar from its flowers can attract several kinds of pollinators to your garden.

Anise plants grow to about 45 cm tall and produce umbels of lacy white flowers in mid to late summer. The lower leaves of this plant are rounded, while the upper leaves grow more feathery.

It is a frost-tender annual. If you plan to harvest seeds, about 120 days are needed until harvest.

Its taste is sweetish, with a pleasant aroma. The seed contains mainly fatty oil and proteins and therefore has no aroma. The essential oil and anethole are used mainly for making drinks, above all liqueurs.

Dropped onto paper, the essential oil drives away insects.

Anise is an aromatic spice and medicinal plant for teas and pastries.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 80%
• Seeds per packet: 187–253 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: Spain
• Sowing: March and April; direct
• Flowering: July and August
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Anise

Anise seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower in July and August. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Anise

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 20–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Anise seeds can be sown directly outdoors once the danger of frost has passed. They do not transplant well, so it is best to sow the seeds directly. However, they can be started indoors if transplanted young and with minimal disturbance of the root ball (take care not to break the taproot). Plant the seeds at a depth of about 1 cm. They should germinate in about 10-21 days once the soil temperature is around 21°C. The final spacing between plants should be 15-30 cm. apart.

Sow directly in early spring; it dislikes transplanting.

Harvest and use

The seeds are harvested when the umbels turn brown.

Frequently asked questions

When should Anise be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 187–253 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 80%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.