planting star anise seeds Star Anise

planting star anise seeds Star AniseStar Anise Illicium verum An aromatic evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, prized for its distinctive star shaped seed pods. These pods have a sweet, liquorice like flavour and are widely used in teas, broths, baking, and traditional medicine. A beautiful, slow growing tree suited to warm, sheltered areas or large containers, making it a unique addition to edible and ornamental gardens. Requires protection from frost and prefers a well draining,

Star Anise

Illicium verum

An aromatic evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, prized for its distinctive star-shaped seed pods. These pods have a sweet, liquorice-like flavour and are widely used in teas, broths, baking, and traditional medicine. A beautiful, slow-growing tree suited to warm, sheltered areas or large containers, making it a unique addition to edible and ornamental gardens.

Requires protection from frost and prefers a well-draining, chunky potting mix.

Growing Instructions

Soak seeds in hot water for 24 hours before sowing. Plant in a warm, free-draining medium and keep moist at 20–25 °C.
Gibberellic acid may assist with breaking dormancy.

🌿 Optional: Use Gibberellic Acid (GA₃)

Star anise seeds can be slow to sprout due to their tough seed coat and internal dormancy. Soaking the seeds in a 500 ppm GA₃ solution for 24 hours before sowing can help trigger germination and improve success rates.

Click here to purchase Gibberellic Acid (GA₃)

⚠️ Recommended for experienced growers — germination can take 4–8 weeks, and success rates may vary.

See our growing guide for Germinating Difficult Seeds.

6 Seeds