How to grow anise
Family Apiaceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 5a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun. Ready in 100-120 days.
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
8-12 in
Days to harvest
100-120 days
Hardiness
Zone 5a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant anise
- Start indoors: ~6 weeks before last frost.
- Transplant out: ~1 weeks after last frost.
- Direct sow: ~1 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for anise
Plant with: Coriander.
Avoid near: Carrot, Dill (cross-pollinates and both bolt in competition).
Common pests & problems
Aphid; otherwise rarely bothered.
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options: Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When to feed: Feed the bed, not the plant. Carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for: Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Needs a long, warm, frost-free season to set seed; stake plants, as the thin stalks flop once seed heads fill out.
When to plant anise in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for anise
Soil & pH
6.0-7.0
Light, well-drained loam. A warm-season annual sensitive to cold and wet feet.
Compost lightly; anise does not need rich soil and grows leggy with excess nitrogen.
Watering
1 in / week
Even moisture, especially during germination and seed set; avoid waterlogging.
Water when the top inch of soil dries; anise dislikes both drought and standing water.
Knowing when to harvest
- Seed heads (umbels) turn gray-brown and seeds rattle loosely, usually 100-120 days after sowing.
- Cut whole seed heads before seeds shatter and drop on their own.
- Leaves can be harvested young for a milder, licorice-like garnish before the plant bolts to seed.
Storing & keeping
Dry cut seed heads upside down in a paper bag in a warm, airy spot for 1-2 weeks, then thresh and store seed in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place for up to 3 years.
What to expect
Per plant: A few tablespoons to an ounce of dried seed per plant
Troubleshooting anise
Plant never sets seed before frost
Likely cause: Anise needs a long, warm season (100+ frost-free days) and is often started too late
What to do: Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost in short-season climates and transplant carefully, since anise resents root disturbance.
Seeds shatter before harvest
Likely cause: Waiting too long after seed heads brown
What to do: Cut heads as soon as most seeds turn gray-brown rather than waiting for full dry-down on the plant.
Varieties worth growing
Common anise (species type)
Sold generically as anise seed; distinct named cultivars are uncommon.
Growing anise in containers
5-gallon pot workable for a single plant given its modest taproot, in a warm, sheltered, full-sun spot.
Nutrition
Beta-carotene, vitamin K, luteolin (parsley). A nutrient bargain per square foot.
Common questions
Is anise the same as star anise?
No. Culinary anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an Apiaceae annual grown for seed; star anise is an unrelated tree fruit from an entirely different plant family, though both share a similar licorice flavor compound.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.