What is this anise smelling plant?
There are several plants in the family Apiaceae with these kind of thin leaves, and some smell strong and/or are used as herbs in the kitchen. This must be Fennel  Foeniculum vulgare, because you describe it's smell as anise. Dill looks similar, but smells different. Fennel is indigenous to the mediterranean, but planted all over Europe.

It can be quite big, but on poor, rocky soil might remain small. 

Picture of fennel from Dutch wikipedia: