Anise

Pimpinella anisum | Rating: 0 votes | Print / Pdf

Petite and chic, pimpinella anisum or anise is a sweet plant in more ways than one. There is an air of refined daintiness to it, with feathery-looking foliage, which is light green and serves as the perfect partner to the tiny white clusters of flowers that bloom in summer, after which seeds appear. Both the seeds and the foliage have a distinct aroma. Anise is widely used as a liquorice-like flavouring for a range of food and beverages. Anise likes well-drained loamy and sandy soils and should be grown in an area that receives full sunlight. Understatedly elegant, anise works very well in wildlife gardens and informal garden designs. It brings a touch of exquisite delicacy to borders and will grow in containers too, enabling it to serve as a fine decoration for a patio or deck.

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • no
Height [m]
  • 0.4 - 0.5
Spread [m]
  • 0.5
Dominant flower colour
  • White
Flower Fragrance
  • Yes, let it smell
Flowering seasons
  • Late winter
  • Early spring
Foliage in spring
  • Green
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Propagation methods
  • seed
Growth habit
  • Clump-forming
  • Upright
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Hardiness zone
  • Z5-7
Heat zone
  • H7-5
Winter temperatures [°C]
  • -29 - -12
Heat days
  • 30 - 90
Moisture
  • well-drained
Soil type
  • sandy
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
Exposure
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Flowers & bulbs
  • Wild flowers
Grown for
  • Attractive Flowers
Creative category
  • Kid Approved
  • Fine fragrants
  • For Beginners
  • Colours
  • For birds & bees
Garden type
  • Woodland
  • Wildlife gardens
Gardening expertise
  • beginner
Time to reach full size
  • 2 to 5 years
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