Star anise

Illicium verum

Eight-pointed woody stars with a liquorice warmth, for pho and five-spice; an evergreen for mild, moist woodland.

Type: small tree · tropical and subtropical food plants
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: part shade
Size: about 20 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: September to November
From: S. China and N. Vietnam
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: food.

Native to: East Asia, South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.

The story

Star anise comes from the hills where southern China meets Vietnam and has flavoured braises, pho and five-spice powder for centuries. Much of the world's crop still comes from Guangxi.

Planting

Part shade, shelter and moist, acid, well-drained soil in a mild climate.

Growing

Slow to start and long-lived. Mulch to keep the roots cool.

Harvest and use

Pick the fruits green, just before they ripen, and dry them in the sun until they turn red-brown and woody.

What to watch for

Never substitute Japanese star anise, a look-alike garden shrub that is poisonous. Trees take many years to bear.

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More tropical and subtropical food plants

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home