Star anise is a spice widely used in South East Asian cuisines. Easily grown in tropical regions, the plant is adorned with beautiful flowers and star-shaped fruits. If you love its earthy flavor, Learn How to Grow Star Anise in this informative article!
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Star Anise Plant Profile
With its roots in South Eastern China, 80-90% of the world’s production is indigenous to the place. It is mainly cultivated for commercial purposes and exported to various parts of the world. Star Anise grows best in sub-tropical regions and needs to be nourished in greenhouses in cold regions.
The tropical evergreen tree grows up to 15-20 feet tall. It features large glossy green foliage, and the white flowers are beautiful and of great decorative value. The fruit has eight carpels forming the star shape, hence the name.
Botanical Name: Illicium verum
Other Names: Anis de Chine, Anís Estrellado, Anis Étoilé, Anis Étoilé Chinois, Aniseed Stars, Anisi Stellati Fructus, Ba Jiao Hui, Badiana, Badiane, Badiane de Chine, Bajiao, Chinese Anise, Chinese Star Anise, Eight-Horned Anise, Eight Horns, and Illicium verum.
USDA Zones: 8 – 11
Difficulty: Moderate
Star Anise Propagation
Star anise is propagated by seeds or cuttings. Seeds are propagated best when the temperature ranges from 65-70 F (18-20 C). As the seeds do not appreciate transplantation, you can directly sow the seeds in the pot or the garden.
Water the seeds frequently to keep the soil moist and ensure the pot has enough drainage holes in the bottom to drain excess water.
If growing from cuttings, snip a 5-6 inches healthy hardwood stem near the leaf node, scrap the ends, and plant it in a blend of peat moss, perlite, and sand. Water well, a,d provide ample sunlight.
Note: Seed propagation is the recommended method for growing Star Anise. However, it is a time-consuming process, so you can consider getting a well-grown plant from a nursery and nourishing it at your home.
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Choosing the Right Pot
You need not worry if you don’t have an extensive garden. Star Anise does pretty well in pots. Start the seeds in a 12-14 inches pot. Transplant it to one size bigger pot once you find the roots spreading out of the drainage hole.
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Requirements for Growing Star Anise
Sunlight
Star anise requires dappled shade and partial sun, but plant it in a warm and sunny location if you’re growing star anise in a cooler climate. Choose a position, so it is not exposed to cold and dry winds.
Also, keep the plant away from the harsh afternoon sun that might burn its leaves.
Temperature & Humidity
Star anise is native to Vietnam and China and prefers a warm subtropical climate with high humidity. It is vulnerable to frost and does not survive in areas with temperatures below 15 F or -10 C.
If you live in a cooler area below USDA Zone 9, plant star anise in a container to keep it in a greenhouse or indoors in winter. Also, use a humidifier or an external heat source to help the plant survive.
Soil
Star Anise needs a well-draining medium that is slightly acidic. If you are growing it in pots, the ideal potting mix would be a blend of peat moss, river sand, well-rotted manure, and a handful of perlite.
The plant grows really well between a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Watering
The plant grows the best fruits in a moist environment. Keep the soil slightly on the moist side all the time. However, make sure not to overwater.
Cut down on watering during wet and colder months but do not let the medium dry out completely.
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Star Anise Care
Fertilizer
If you have amended the growing medium with plenty of organic matter, then don’t worry much about feeding the plant. Use aged manure or compost once a month to boost growth. You can also use a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to 1/4 of its strength, once in 4-6 weeks.
Pests and Diseases
There are not any specific pest or disease that bothers it. Star anise itself has antibacterial and pest-repellent properties. However, it might occasionally get contracted by fungal infestations like Alternaria Blight or Downy Mildew.
Snip away the affected stems and use an insecticidal soap solution to fight the diseases. Avoid overwatering to bar further infestation.
Pruning
Star Anise is a beautiful hedge plant, so when the plant is young, pinch and prune it if you want to make it bushier. There are no special pruning requirements. However, you can always prune off dead, diseased, and weak branches.
Harvesting Star Anise
Star anise tree takes at least 6 years to fruit if grown from seeds. These fruits are picked unripe while still green. Later on, these fruits are sun-dried until their color change to reddish-brown; seeds can be removed once the fruits are ready to be stored.
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Star Anise Uses
The flavorful spice adds a rich aroma to meat dishes, stews, soups, broths, and other savory dishes. It is also used in desserts and beverages. It is an essential part of Chinese cuisine and is used in various South-Asian cuisines.
Together with fennel seeds, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, it is considered one of the “Five Chinese Spice”, used for its strong taste and spicy flavor. Apart from its culinary uses, the spice also exhibits several pharmacological benefits.
Warnings
While growing star anise, don’t confuse it with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) or Shikimi, a poisonous plant native to Japan. Its seeds or fruits are somewhat similar to those of star anise and are only slightly smaller and look like cardamom, having a more rounded shape and a small hook.
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manjula kishor
October 30, 2015 At 11:38 am
Informative. I have a terrace garden and want to grow. Where can I get the seeds or sapling
Reply
ANANT ANAVKAR
January 18, 2021 At 3:42 am
Just buy a pack of star anise from Indian grocery store — it has lots of seeds
Reply
Shreeram Shirodkar
August 28, 2021 At 7:35 am
But in this article they have clearly mentioned that the green flowers are dried to produce star anise.
Meaning the seeds are not fully matured.
But we must keep trying to find matured seeds from these dried flowers (usually seeds don’t give flavor)
Reply
Racheal
April 15, 2018 At 6:36 pm
Very informative with exciting balcony gardening.
Reply
Perfect Plants
September 21, 2019 At 9:56 pm
Star anise smells amazing. We have a Ocala Anise that is very similar to this plant but not edible
Reply
C
March 28, 2020 At 10:08 pm
please provide a photos to help distinguish real star anise [good] from Japanese star anise and swamp star anise [poisonous!]. All three are mentioned in this article.
Reply
Michael K Malone
July 12, 2020 At 3:51 am
The photo is already shown above for the real Chinese Star Anise.
Reply
marilyn needham
October 8, 2020 At 3:50 am
Hi, do you plant the whole dried flower please? My husband bought a jar of star anise from the grocers. I haven’t the heart to tell him it could take 6 years if I’m successful! Cheers and thankyou, Marilyn,
Reply
sara tonin
January 5, 2021 At 2:38 am
How many stars per plant can I expect to harvest?
Reply
Jimmy C Mattom
August 25, 2021 At 2:41 pm
Where in Kerala is sapling of illicium verum (star anise) availble?
Reply
Dorah
November 8, 2022 At 2:41 pm
Where can I buy the star anise seedlings in Nairobi Kenya? The ones that are ready for transplant.
Reply
ANANT ANAVKAR
January 18, 2021 At 3:42 am
Just buy a pack of star anise from Indian grocery store — it has lots of seeds
Reply
Shreeram Shirodkar
August 28, 2021 At 7:35 am
But in this article they have clearly mentioned that the green flowers are dried to produce star anise.
Meaning the seeds are not fully matured.
But we must keep trying to find matured seeds from these dried flowers (usually seeds don’t give flavor)
Reply
Informative. I have a terrace garden and want to grow. Where can I get the seeds or sapling
- Shreeram Shirodkar
- August 28, 2021 At 7:35 am
- But in this article they have clearly mentioned that the green flowers are dried to produce star anise.
- Meaning the seeds are not fully matured.
- But we must keep trying to find matured seeds from these dried flowers (usually seeds don’t give flavor)
- Reply
Just buy a pack of star anise from Indian grocery store — it has lots of seeds
But in this article they have clearly mentioned that the green flowers are dried to produce star anise. Meaning the seeds are not fully matured. But we must keep trying to find matured seeds from these dried flowers (usually seeds don’t give flavor)
Very informative with exciting balcony gardening.
Star anise smells amazing. We have a Ocala Anise that is very similar to this plant but not edible
please provide a photos to help distinguish real star anise [good] from Japanese star anise and swamp star anise [poisonous!]. All three are mentioned in this article.
The photo is already shown above for the real Chinese Star Anise.
Hi, do you plant the whole dried flower please? My husband bought a jar of star anise from the grocers. I haven’t the heart to tell him it could take 6 years if I’m successful! Cheers and thankyou, Marilyn,
How many stars per plant can I expect to harvest?
Where in Kerala is sapling of illicium verum (star anise) availble?
Where can I buy the star anise seedlings in Nairobi Kenya? The ones that are ready for transplant.
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