Anise in Zone 5a & 5b
Pimpinella anisum
Yes, anise grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside May 10–May 17.
When to plant anise in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | May 10–May 17 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 17–Sep 24 (~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 5b
These go outside within two weeks of anise in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilMay 24–May 31
- BorageMay 10–May 17
- DillMay 3–May 10
- RosemaryMay 24–May 31
- American GinsengMay 10–May 17
- Anise HyssopMay 10–May 17
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Anise needs about 130 days from sowing to first harvest.
Anise planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 →
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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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Anise in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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