Anise
Pimpinella anisum
herbAnise is a delicate annual herb grown for its sweet, licorice-flavored seeds and lacy, edible foliage. Reaching about 2 feet, it carries flat umbels of small white flowers that draw beneficial insects before the aromatic seeds ripen.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~120 days
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Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
6-12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Seed 1/4 in. deep
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Soil pH
6.0-6.7
Growing Details
Soil Type
Light, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 9
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Light feed early in the season
Fertilizer
Balanced or compost; low needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Sow seed directly after the last frost, since anise has a taproot and resents transplanting, and barely cover it in light, well-drained soil in full sun. Thin the seedlings, keep weeds down, and water moderately; the plant needs a long, warm season of about 120 days to ripen seed. Support floppy plants and ease off watering as the seed heads dry.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Aug 13
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Cilantro: Sowing the two together is said to improve anise germination
- Cabbage: Aromatic anise helps confuse and repel brassica pests
- Beans: Fix nitrogen while anise draws beneficial wasps overhead
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
The umbel flowers draw hoverflies and wasps that prey on aphids; hose off any clusters
🌾 Harvest & storage
Snip fresh leaves anytime for salads. For seed, cut the umbels when the heads turn brown in late summer, dry them on a cloth, then rub out and store the seeds. Harvest on a dry morning to limit shattering.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Anise seeds are rich in anethole, the aromatic oil behind their licorice flavor, used in teas and baking to soothe digestion; the flowers feed parasitic wasps and hoverflies.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.