Anise Seeds
Herb Specifications
Season: Annual
USDA Zones: 4 - 9
Height: 12 - 18 inches
Bloom Season: Mid summer
Bloom Color: White
Environment: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-drained, light, rich, rather dry, loamy soils, pH 5.6 - 7.5
Planting Directions
Temperature: 68 - 70F
Average Germ Time: 14 days
Light Required: No
Depth: 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep
Sowing Rate: 3 seeds per plant
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 9 - 12 inches
Anise (Pimpinella Anisum) - Start Anise seeds for a very versatile herb that can be grown for a wide variety of reasons. Anise plants make lovely ornamental herbs with fern-like, finely divided leaves and small white flower umbels. Anise is originally from the Middle East, and it has quite a long history as a medicinal herb. The Greeks and Romans used it as a cough remedy and as a breath freshener.
The Anise herb plant is also highly used as a culinary herb. It is sweet, highly aromatic and has a flavor similar to licorice. The leaves are often used to garnish dishes and are added to salads. The seeds are crushed and the flavoring is used in fruit dishes, pastries, and cheeses. The oil is also used in making perfumes, soaps and other toiletries.
How to Grow Anise Herb Seed: Directly sow Anise seeds outdoors in a prepared seedbed after the danger of frost has passed. Anise plants do not transplant well, so directly sowing the Pimpinella Anisum seed is recommended. A companion planting for Anise is coriander. The young plants need protection from winds. They thrive in full sun and in well-drained soils. Once the flower umbels are full of brown seeds, cut the seed heads off, placing them on paper toweling or plates. Set them in a warm place and in direct sunlight if possible to finish drying the herb seeds.