Japanese Anise Tree Illicium anisatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- il-LISS-ee-um an-ee-SAH-tum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
A broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree in the Schisandraceae (anise) family native to Japan. They grow 6 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist organically rich well-drained sandy to loam soils. It prefers acidic soil thriving in conditions similar to rhododendrons. Tolerates wet sites, heavy shade, deer browsing, and erosion. It is not very cold hardy.
The leaves are dark green and fragrant and are prized by florists because they remain fresh for a long time after pruning. Creamy white, scent-free flowers are clustered in the leaf axils and have many petals. They do not spread by root sucker to form colonies and only need occasional pruning to maintain shape or remove dead, broken, or crossing branches. Propagate this plant by stem cutting, layering, or seed.
Plant as an informal hedge, a shrub border, in a rain garden, or allowed to naturalize. Mass plant them to use as a screen or group them along fences or walls in a cottage garden. Train it into a small tree and use it for a patio planting. They work well in difficult wet shady areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'HinPurlf'
Deep burgundy new foliage, fragrant flowers - 'Murasaki-no-sato'
New growth dark burgandy fades to dark green. Starry fruits smell like cinnamon. - 'Pink Stars'
Pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'HinPurlf'
- 'HinPurlf', 'Murasaki-no-sato', 'Pink Stars', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'HinPurlf'
Deep burgundy new foliage, fragrant flowers - 'Murasaki-no-sato'
New growth dark burgandy fades to dark green. Starry fruits smell like cinnamon. - 'Pink Stars'
Pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'HinPurlf'
- 'HinPurlf', 'Murasaki-no-sato', 'Pink Stars', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Species:
- anisatum
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves are burned and used as incense in Japan. Leaves are used in floral arrangements.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Korea, Japan to Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to birds
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer damage
- Edibility:
- All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The dry star shaped fruit is not edible and is toxic in large quantities.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-2 in. greenish-yellow to white flowers in spring.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rubbery
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2-4 in. long; margins have a wavy texture and have an anise-like or root beer fragrance when crushed.
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-
Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Multi-trunked or clumping stems, can be trained into a single trunk
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- New growth is green
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Causes inflammation, hallucinations, nausea. All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sesquiterpene lactones
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
