Anise in Zone 11a & 11b
Pimpinella anisum
Yes, anise grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside Jan 1–Jan 8.
When to plant anise in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated harvest | May 11–May 18 (~130 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of anise in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilJan 15–Jan 22
- RosemaryJan 15–Jan 22
- EpazoteJan 1–Jan 8
- Licorice MarigoldJan 1–Jan 8
- Parsley Root (Hamburg Parsley)Jan 1–Jan 8
- SaltwortJan 1–Jan 8
Anise is a licorice-flavored seed herb that needs a long season, at least 130 days, to mature its seed, so it's worth planting as early as the last frost allows rather than waiting.
How anise fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Anise planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 20–May 27 | Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 30–Jun 6 | Oct 7–Oct 14 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 15–May 22 | Sep 22–Sep 29 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 10–May 17 | Sep 17–Sep 24 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 25–May 2 | Sep 2–Sep 9 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Aug 18–Aug 25 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Aug 2–Aug 9 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Not usually | Jan 1–Jan 8 | May 11–May 18 |
Harvest dates are about 130 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for anise.
Where to buy anise seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's anise seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing anise" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Anise in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest