Florida Sunshine Illicium Illicium parviflorum 'Florida Sunshine'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- il-LISS-ee-um par-VEE-flor-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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'Florida Sunshine' is a cultivar introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC. While the species is typically a large, upright, dense evergreen shrub or small tree, this cultivar is smaller and grows bright, chartreuse leaves that become even more strongly yellow in the fall and quite pale in the winter. The stems will also redden with the cool weather, further increasing its ornamental value. The foliage, like the species, produces its characteristic anise-like fragrance.
It is best to grow this cultivar in part shade as the leaves can scorch in large amounts of bright sunlight. It is not drought-tolerant and, therefore, requires moist, rich soil to properly grow.
Woodland areas are optimal locations and it is a great option to add color to a winter garden. The striking yellow leaves are also attractive in a mixed shrub border.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Four-Season Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Species:
- parviflorum
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Garden Origin
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Edibility:
- All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- These imbricate yellow to yellowish-green flowers are 1/2" wide. There are 6-12 petals per flower and flowers have a faint, pleasant scent.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- 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:
- Unlike the species, the leaves are a bright chartreuse-green. While the leaves do not drop off in the fall or winter, they do change color from yellow to parchment-pale.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The smooth stems change from green in the summer to red in the fall. Like the species, they are glabrous, stout, and rounded with medium-large, imbricate buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
