Anise seeds

The sweet licorice herb worth a spot in your garden

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a fast, fuss-free annual herb grown for its small ribbed seeds and their warm, sweet, licorice-like flavor. Often called aniseed, it is the taste behind Italian biscotti and pizzelle, rustic breads, sausages, and anise cordials. Each anise plant sends up lacy white flower heads that ripen into fragrant seed, and even a short row is enough to keep a kitchen stocked through the year.

How to grow anise from seed

Anise is one of the easier herbs to start from seed. Sow anise seeds about a quarter inch deep in a sunny, well-drained bed once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed, then thin the seedlings to stand a few inches apart. Plants grow to roughly 18 to 24 inches tall and take about 100 to 120 days to ripen seed, so give them a long, warm season. Anise forms a taproot and resents being moved, so it does best direct-sown where it will grow. For the full step-by-step, see our complete guide to growing anise from seed.

How to use anise seed

The seeds are the prize. Toast them lightly to deepen their aroma, then fold them into cookies, cakes, and breads, or crush them into sausage and pickling blends. Aniseed is also traditionally brewed into after-dinner herbal teas and used to flavor cordials such as ouzo and sambuca. The feathery young leaves are edible too and make a pretty, faintly sweet garnish for salads and fruit.

Anise and its licorice-scented cousins

If you love anise, you will likely enjoy its aromatic relatives. Try fennel for the same sweet licorice note in a leafy vegetable, caraway for a nuttier, earthier seed, or dill for bright, feathery greens. You can explore the full range in our herb seeds collection.

Why buy anise seeds from Organo Republic

Every packet of anise seed we sell is non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom, and germination tested, so you can sow with confidence. As a U.S. family business, we work directly with trusted growers to keep quality high and prices low, and every pack carries a QR code that links straight to free online growing guidance. Orders over $49 ship free. Whether you want a single pack of anise or a curated herb collection, you will find dependable, easy-to-grow seed here.