Hey!
Some plants jumped into my cart the other day, one of which was an anise plant...never grown it, but the tag says that it grows 4-20 inches...

That's a BIG variable! This one is about 8 inches tall, and reminds me of mint plants, so here goes...

Should I pinch the top to promote bushier growth?

Any suggestions on where to plant it, like what to plant it near...in the garden, or in a flower bed?

Do any of you use the leaves /seeds for baking, sausage, teas, etc?

Just looking for some advice & suggestions...it jumped in my cart cuz I've never seen an anise plant at the grocery store before...just always bought the anise seed, if I needed some...I LOVE Anise Cookies!

Thanks, Vicki

I thought Anise was similar to Dill and Fennel.

Could you have an "Anise Hyssop" plant? THere are Hyssop plants that have an Anise scent to them.

I'll try to remember to research this when I get home, back to my library on herbs!

rabbity,

you might be right on the money, here...the stick-in label just says:

ANISE
Annual-Very popular herb. Use fresh or dried to flavor sausage, cakes, candy, breads.

HOW TO GROW:

Grows 4-20" (10-51 cm) tall. Prefers a moist, nutrient-rich soil.

PERIOD...that's all it says, but I looked in a couple books, and did a search & it looks like anise hyssop...square stems, like the mint family...and my searches said that hyssop was a perennial (one said an evergreen shrub, actually)...AND that IT prefers sandy, dry soil...how confusing!X-(

I looked on the plant labels for a # or website, but nothing, so now I am gonna ask the store where I bought them for some info, so I can contact their supplier for info...Urggg! X-(

Makes me mad to get possibly wrong or misleading info when I buy a plant! X-(

Anise, on the other hand, IS related to dill & fennel....fern-like leaves, like you said...and an annual!

Thanks for your help! Let me stop growling now...
Vicki X-(

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) -

An annual plant growing to 2 ft. tall. Prefers growing in cultivated soil with compost worked in and full sun.

here is a 'link' to more info.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anise

Thanks purplebean!

What I bought looks like Anise Hyssop, NOT [u]real[/u] Anise!

Oh well, the leaves SMELL like anise, anyway!
Thanks, again!
Vicki