Green Anise Seeds Packet

Green Anise Seeds Packet Vilmorin (Reference: 5871546) - Discover this ancient herb, grown since the time of the Egyptians and the Romans throughout the Mediterranean basin. Vilmorin, a French reference in seeds since 1743, offers you top-quality seeds for successful green anise growing. This condiment plant provides a natural and economical way to enrich your dishes with authentic flavours.

Uses and benefits of green anise

Green anise appeals to beginner gardeners as much as to passionate cooks. Its seeds offer a unique aroma, at once sweet and fragrant, perfect for lifting pastries, herbal teas, liqueurs and Mediterranean dishes. Restaurateurs and herbalists appreciate this plant for its authenticity and its ease of cultivation.

In the vegetable garden, green anise is an excellent companion for your vegetables. Its presence naturally repels aphids, thereby protecting tomatoes, courgettes and other susceptible crops. This property makes it a valuable ally for organic gardening, reducing the need for chemical treatments while diversifying your production.

Characteristics and technical features

Pimpinella anisum, the botanical name of green anise, belongs to the Apiaceae family. This annual plant reaches 40 to 60 cm in height, developing upright stems borne on a taproot system. Its lower leaves are rounded and toothed, while the upper ones are more finely divided.

Flowering occurs 60 to 80 days after sowing, producing small white flowers grouped in umbels. These flowers then turn into oval seeds of 3 to 4 mm, brown-green in colour, containing the precious essential oils responsible for the characteristic aroma. The concentration of anethole, the main active compound, reaches its maximum at full seed maturity.

Planting, growing and maintenance

Green anise sowing is done directly in open ground from April to May, once the risk of frost has passed and the soil temperature reaches at least 15°C. Draw furrows 1 cm deep, spaced 40 cm apart, and sow the seeds, covering them lightly with fine soil. Watering with a fine spray encourages uniform emergence within 10 to 15 days.

Thinning is a crucial step: at the 4-5 true leaf stage, remove the weakest plants to keep a spacing of 15-20 cm between each plant. This operation guarantees optimal development and maximum seed production. Green anise needs little care: regular hoeing, moderate watering in case of prolonged drought, and weed control until the foliage covers the ground.

The seed harvest comes in August-September, as soon as the umbels turn brown and the seeds come away easily. Cut the stems in the morning, hang them in bunches in a dry, airy place, then thresh them to recover the seeds once fully dried.

Expert advice and companion planting

To maximise your results, choose a sunny spot and a well-drained soil, even a chalky one. Green anise tolerates drought once established, but dislikes excess moisture, which encourages fungal diseases. A light mulch keeps the soil cool without holding water.

Pair green anise with coriander, fennel and dill to create a bed of Mediterranean herbs with similar needs. Avoid direct proximity to carrots and parsley, which may compete for nutrients. Complete your range with our other Vilmorin seeds: basil, thyme, oregano, to diversify your flavours.

The harvested seeds keep for 2 to 3 years in airtight containers, away from light and moisture. To intensify their aroma, toast them lightly in a dry pan before use. Remember also to set aside part of your harvest for next year's sowings, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of your production.

Technical specifications