Introduction to the Latest Propagation Methods for the Star Anise Tree

The fruit and seeds of the star anise tree can be used as a seasoning and also as medicine, making it an economic plant with high planting prospects. For large-scale afforestation, seed seedling propagation is usually adopted. In order to establish high-yield plantations and achieve earlier fruiting, methods such as grafting and division propagation can also be used. Let us take a look at the propagation methods of the star anise tree below!

Grafting Propagation of the Star Anise Tree

The branch grafting method is a commonly used method in star anise grafting, and the grafting survival rate is relatively high. When grafting, first cut off the scion; the scion is 5 cm long and has more than 2 leaf buds. Then use a grafting knife to make a smooth slanting cut 2-2.5 cm long downward at 0.5 cm below the first bud point on the back of the scion's terminal bud, reaching as deep as the xylem, and then cut a small 30-degree facet at the end of the back of the slanting cut. Cut the rootstock flat at about 15 cm above the ground, choose a smooth side, use a grafting knife to shave off a little from the edge of the cut surface, and then make a vertical cut downward along the outer edge of the xylem on the secondary slanting side, with the depth slightly shorter than the cut surface of the scion. Then immediately insert the cut surface of the scion facing the cut of the rootstock, and then tie and fix it with a plastic bag from bottom to top, sealing the joint.

Division Propagation of the Star Anise Tree

Division propagation of the star anise tree is an efficient and rapid seedling-raising method, and seedlings cultivated by this method survive quickly when planted on hills for afforestation, have many roots, are strong, and have a high survival rate. Usually in early spring each year, except for the thick main trunk, ring-bark the base of all the remaining lower trunks, with a width of 2-4 cm, and mound soil 20 cm higher than the ring-barked part. In this way, a large number of fibrous roots will grow at the ring-barked part, and in the winter of the same year, they can be cut off below the ring-barked part together with soil and transplanted for afforestation.

Seed Propagation of the Star Anise Tree

1. Land preparation and fertilization: The star anise seedling nursery should be on flat land at the foot of a mountain or gentle sloping land close to a water source, surrounded by mountains, and in a moist environment. Choose loam soil with deep soil layers and loose, fertile texture as the seedling site. The previous crops are best beans, sweet potato, taro vegetables, and other crops. If it is newly reclaimed wasteland, cut down the ground plants and spread them evenly on the ground, burn them after they dry, then plow deeply 25-30 cm, break up the clods, and level and refine the soil. After preparing the land, make beds 100 cm wide and 20 cm high. Apply 2500 kg of farmyard manure, 50-70 kg of superphosphate, and 300-500 kg of human feces and urine per mu to the bed surface, then turn them into the bed soil, and level and refine the bed surface, ready for sowing.

2. Seed collection: Among star anise trees aged 20-50 years, select superior plants as seed trees. They are required to grow rapidly, have relatively low lower branches, a large crown, many branches and luxuriant leaves, dark green leaf color, no pests or diseases, normal flowering, autumn fruits accounting for 90%, thick and uniform fruits, long fruit stalks, early and uniform maturity, and little difference in fruiting between on-years and off-years. When the autumn fruits change from green to yellow and the number of fresh fruits per kilogram is below 90, among which 3%-5% have already split open and exposed the seeds, this is the harvesting period. Spread the collected fruits in a cool, dry place indoors or expose them to the sun so that they split open on their own and thresh, then sieve the seeds and process them promptly.

3. Seed treatment: In star anise producing areas, seeds are mostly collected locally and seedlings are raised locally. Dig yellow mud near the seedling site, mix one part seeds with three parts sieved yellow mud evenly, sprinkle water to moisten, so that the seeds are coated with moist yellow mud, place them in a damp place indoors, stir once every 3-4 days, and sprinkle water when dry to keep the yellow soil moist. The best humidity is when the soil can be formed into a ball when grasped by hand. After 2 months, the seeds can germinate.

4. Timely sowing: Star anise seeds should be sown as soon as they are collected. If stored for a long time, the oil content of the seeds volatilizes easily, and the germination rate will decrease. After 1-2 months of storage, the germination rate is only 60%. Sowing is usually from December to January-February of the next year. On the surface of the prepared seedling bed, open sowing furrows at a row spacing of 20 cm and a furrow depth of 5 cm, then sow in the furrows at a plant spacing of 4 cm, cover with turf or fine soil, and finally cover the bed surface with rice straw or thatch 3-5 cm thick to retain moisture and warmth.