Orion Anise-tree Illicium 'Orion'

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Illicium

  Family:

  Schisandraceae

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Hybrid origin

  Play Value:

  Attractive Flowers

  Fragrance

  Edibility:

  All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Perennial

  Poisonous

  Shrub

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Habit/Form:

  Dense

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)

  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)

  Neutral (6.0-8.0)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Occasionally Wet

  Available Space To Plant:

  3 feet-6 feet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Gold/Yellow

  Green

  Fruit Type:

  Aggregate

  Follicle

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  A star-shaped follicetum about an inch in diameter, yellow-green when immature and brown when mature. 9-14 seeds per fruit.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Cream/Tan

  Gold/Yellow

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Solitary

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Fragrant

  Long Bloom Season

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Fall

  Spring

  Summer

  Flower Shape:

  Radial

  Flower Petals:

  more than 20 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  1-3 inches

  Flower Description:

  This cultivar has large, yellowish-white flowers with numerous strap-shaped, radial petals (averages 22). They are solitary and are outward-facing to nodding. They last 5-10 days and each has a slight anise fragrance. The shrub itself has two main bloom seasons, first in April-May and again in September-November, blooming sporadically in between.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Glossy

  Leathery

  Smooth

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Fragrant

  Long-lasting

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Elliptical

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  The fragrant, glossy, leathery leaves are evergreen, staying on the plant all year long. They are yellow-green in color and arranged alternately to almost whorled on the stems. The veining is reticulate.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Dark Brown

  Dark Gray

  Light Brown

  Light Gray

  Surface/Attachment:

  Smooth

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Gold/Yellow

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Cross Section:

  Round

  Stem Surface:

  Smooth (glabrous)

  Stem Description:

  Lateral branches range between 7.5 and 18 inches long. The shape is rounded and has a very thin diameter, no more than 1/4 inch. Internodes are between 2.5 and 5 inches long. The stem surface is smooth, the color yellow-green maturing to a grey-brown.

• 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

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  High

  Poison Symptoms:

  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:

  Leaves

  Seeds