Anyone familiar with a Japanese Anise? (growing, tree, south, leaves)

[Rickcin]

I have one of these on the side of our house and it is not thriving and just looks bad. Thinking it very well might be the location but unable to determine how much sun this needs and what is the growth rate ?

I’m hoping someone on this site has done experience with this shrub and can provide some advice. Thanks

[Zoisite]

Japanese Anise ideally should have full southern exposure and bright light but with a bit of dappled shade and sheltered from high wind. Soil should be loamy, well draining acid to acid-neutral soil. The shrub should be watered regularly once or twice a week at the height of summer but not so much water that the soil becomes soaked and spongy. It doesn't require a great deal of water but it's not drought tolerant either so it needs to be regularly watered lightly and kept evenly moist. Under the very most ideal growing conditions it takes about 10 years to achieve full height, but with average conditions it takes 15 - 20 years.

Take note that you cannot use the seeds of Japanese Anise for spices for cooking. It's not the same as Chinese Star Anise which is so commonly used for culinary purposes. Japanese Anise seeds are highly toxic.

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[Rickcin]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

Japanese Anise ideally should have full southern exposure and bright light but with a bit of dappled shade and sheltered from high wind. Soil should be loamy, well draining acid to acid-neutral soil. The shrub should be watered regularly once or twice a week at the height of summer but not so much water that the soil becomes soaked and spongy. It doesn't require a great deal of water but it's not drought tolerant either so it needs to be regularly watered lightly and kept evenly moist. Under the very most ideal growing conditions it takes about 10 years to achieve full height, but with average conditions it takes 15 - 20 years.

Take note that you cannot use the seeds of Japanese Anise for spices for cooking. It's not the same as Chinese Star Anise which is so commonly used for culinary purposes. Japanese Anise seeds are highly toxic.

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Thanks for the great information! The tree is on the side of the house and faces east so I guess it gets direct sun for about 4 hours in the am and partial sun all afternoon. It is planted in clay soil and I don’t believe I have been keeping it water durning the dry summer. It also appears that a small animal nibbles on the leaves but I’m not certain. Basically you stated it grows about one foot a year based on your response and that is what I would expect. I guess I could relocate it to a full sun location if it will make that much of a difference? From the photos on line, it appears to be a nice looking full shrub/tree. Thanks much!