Clausena anisum-olens

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid, lowland tropics, growing best at elevations below 500 metres^[1]. It grows well with an annual seasonal rainfall of around 2,000 mm, a maximum temperatures of about 30°c and minimum of about 20°c throughout the year^[1]. Succeeds on poor, acid soils with a pH as low as 4.0^[1]. At high planting densities, all leaves above a height of 0.8 - 1 metre can be harvested 2 - 4 times per year. Trees should be maintained at about 1 metre height by means of post-harvest prunings. Frequency and timing of harvests should be guided by the rate of regrowth and depend on the availability of water. When water and nutrient requirements are met, leaf production is highest under unshaded conditions^[1]. The first harvest can be 1 year after grafting on 2 - 4-year-old rootstocks^[1] The first year, a single harvest amounts to 0.6 - 1 kg leaves per tree. In the second year 1.7 - 2.2 kg are collected in two harvests. In subsequent years a tree yields 2.5 - 4 kg leaves annually, independent of the frequency of harvesting^[1]. After harvesting the leaves it is recommended to extract the oil as soon as possible. Fermentation of the leaves should absolutely be avoided because it leads to production of unpleasant notes in the essential oil^[1]. Oil yield is 1.6 - 2 kg oil from 100 kg fresh leaves. Preliminary estimates for production of essential oil per ha suggest that yields of 350 - 750 kg per year may be possible^[1].