How many years does star anise take to yield and what should I check before planting?

Star anise is a slow tree, it commonly takes several years to even start bearing and many more to reach full yield, then it can produce for a long time. Because it is not a widely commercial crop in India, you have three real risks to check first, whether your hill climate truly suits it, whether you have a confirmed buyer since most supply is imported, and whether the planting material is genuine Illicium verum and not a look alike toxic species. The harvested star shaped fruits are dried in the sun until hard and brown. Given the long wait and thin local market, plant only a trial number first, document growth, and confirm everything with a research station before any large planting.