Anise Tree Illicium floridanum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Illicium mexicanum
- Phonetic Spelling
- il-LISS-ee-um flor-ih-DAY-num
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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An attractive medium to large evergreen shrub in the Schisandraceae family, native to Florida. It is upright and compact. Both the foliage and fruit are poisonous to livestock. Spreads by root suckers. Tolerates heavy shade, erosion and wet planting sites. It is not cold hardy and is intolerant to full sun (causes leaves to yellow). It prefers moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter, and would be ideal in a rain garden or allowed to naturalize. This is a great evergreen shrub for moist, shady locations.
A rapid growing, low maintenance shrub with spectacular foliage is a combination that’s hard to beat. The plant has a multi-stemmed, upright, compact habit. The foliage is quite attractive and aromatic, smelling similar to anise spice or gin-and-tonic when crushed or bruised. Leaves contain high levels of aromatic compounds that repel or are toxic to insects, making this plant pest resistant. Leaves may discolor in full sun or upon exposure to winter winds, making this plant a good broadleaf evergreen for shady locations. The shiny, leathery leaves are olive green in color and the 1½-inch flowers are dark red, with many petals appearing in the early spring. Flowers are pretty but malodorous.
Illicium species usually reach a height between 10 to 15 feet, but this plant reaches a little over 3 feet. Illicium species should be spaced in the landscape at least five feet apart. Florida anise’s natural habitats are the wet, swampy areas or wooded streams with acidic rich soil from Florida to Louisiana, but it will thrive here in the Carolinas. Illicium grows in partial shade to full shade, but reportedly can be acclimated to full sun if well-watered. It prefers moist soil and definitely should be mulched and watered during prolonged dry spells, as it has a tendency to wilt. The recommended USDA zones range from 7 to 10.
The anise that is used as a spice is derived from a different species, Illicium verum, an evergreen tree native to southern China and Vietnam. Illicium dis derived from the Latin "illici" which means "allure, entice" likely because of the pleasing fragrance of many of the species. The species epithet floridanum comes from the Latin "florid" meaning "flowery" and also that it is native to Florida (USA).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. The leaves may discolor in sun or if exposed to harsh winds.
Compare this Plant to: I. parviflorum a popular landscaping shrub, especially for use as hedges, and it is more tolerant of sun and dry soil, or the rare, yellow-flowered species, Illicium simonsii.
Quick ID Hints:
- Thick, elliptic leaves are in pseudo-whorls at branch tips.
- Bruised leaves smell like gin-and-tonic.
- Plant has purplish, foetid flowers with many ligulate petals.
- Leaf has reddish-purple petiole.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Aztec Fire'
- 'Grey Ghost'
Pewter-colored leaves white margins, pale pink flowers - 'Halley's Comet'
- 'Pebblebrook'
Dense habit, 2" maroon flowers, filtered sun - 'Pink Frost'
Compact habit, white and green variegated leaves turn pink when cold - 'Semnes'
- 'Shady Lady'
Variegated
'Swamp Hobbit'
- 'Thayer'
Soft pink flowers, variegated leaves with white margins great for lightening up shaded locations - var. album
White flowers, slightly smaller size, lighter leaves
Pyramidal form, large, showy, dark red flowers
Dwarf variety, highly deer resistant, maroon flowers - 'Grey Ghost'
- 'Aztec Fire', 'Grey Ghost', 'Halley's Comet', 'Pebblebrook', 'Pink Frost', 'Semnes', 'Shady Lady', 'Swamp Hobbit', 'Thayer', var. album
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Aztec Fire'
- 'Grey Ghost'
Pewter-colored leaves white margins, pale pink flowers - 'Halley's Comet'
- 'Pebblebrook'
Dense habit, 2" maroon flowers, filtered sun - 'Pink Frost'
Compact habit, white and green variegated leaves turn pink when cold - 'Semnes'
- 'Shady Lady'
Variegated
'Swamp Hobbit'
- 'Thayer'
Soft pink flowers, variegated leaves with white margins great for lightening up shaded locations - var. album
White flowers, slightly smaller size, lighter leaves
Pyramidal form, large, showy, dark red flowers
Dwarf variety, highly deer resistant, maroon flowers - 'Grey Ghost'
- 'Aztec Fire', 'Grey Ghost', 'Halley's Comet', 'Pebblebrook', 'Pink Frost', 'Semnes', 'Shady Lady', 'Swamp Hobbit', 'Thayer', var. album
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Species:
- floridanum
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East U.S.A., Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, Central Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, Northeastern Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer
- Edibility:
- POISONOUS IF INGESTED. NOT a substitute for the star anise spice.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Plant produces a cluster of one-seeded dehiscent follicles arranged in a star-shaped whorl. Fruits are green to yellow to brown in color, less than an inch in diameter. Seeds are brown and shiny.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The showy maroon-purple blooms have an unpleasant odor with many strap-shaped petals that nod on slender pedicels. They are foetid, cauliferous, up to 2" in diameter. Petals are ligulate. Flowers bloom in the spring (April-May).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Rubbery
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, lustrous to dull, and 2"-6". long. They are glossy dark green above and pale below. They are in a pseudo-whorl at the end of the stem, are elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, cuneate, entire, and glabrous. Leaves are thick, have a reddish purple petiole, and smell like gin-and-tonic or anise when bruised or crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Polished
- Stem Description:
- Stems are stout, shiny, gray-brown in color, and dotted with small lenticels. They are pith green and solid.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Horses