Chinese Anise Tree Illicium henryi
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- il-LISS-ee-um HEN-re-eye
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Henry Anise Tree is a flowering evergreen shrub, native to China, in the Schisandraceae family. It is found on cliffs and scrub brush habitat. It grows to 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide with a dense pyramidal to rounded shape. Pink to red waxy blooms with up to 20 petals occurs in spring. The leaves have an anise aroma when crushed.
Henry Anise Tree grows best in moist, high organic, well-drained, acidic soil in partial to full shade. It will tolerate full sun with care. You can use the plant as a specimen, as a hedge for privacy, for winter interest, or in small groups. Only the seed pods of Illicium verum (Chinese Star Anise) are recognized for culinary use in teas and as a spice. All other species have a variety of toxic characteristics in leaves, stems, and/or seed pods.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. However, keep a watch for the presence of whiteflies.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Species:
- henryi
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and South China
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer and rabbit tolerant
- Play Value:
- Screening
- 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. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown, star-shaped seed pods in fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1 to 1 1/2 inch waxy pink to deep crimson 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:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, leathery, lustrous, dark green leaves; 4 to 5 inches long; fragrant when bruised. Paler undersides.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
