Ocala Anise Illicium parviflorum
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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This large, upright, dense evergreen shrub or small tree suckers to form colonies. It grows between 15'-20' high and 10'-15' wide with a sympodial growth habit. It is moderately drought and soil-type tolerant (will tolerate a range of soil types: moist, dry, heavy clay, loam, acidic, alkaline) It is native to the lower southeastern US; and is the most cold hardy Illicum spp. This plant prefers part sun to part shade and has no major pest or disease problems. It blooms from May-June into the fall, has a vigorous growth rate, is easy to grow, and has no fall color change. This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer.
Quick ID Hints:
- New leaves are soft yellow-green.
- Adult leaves are olive green and 2"-4" long.
- Has unique imbricate, green buds.
- Flowers are yellowish-green, have 6-12 petals, and are 1⁄2" wide.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Stream Garden Deck Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Florida Sunshine'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Florida Sunshine'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Species:
- parviflorum
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Florida and Dominican Republic
- Distribution:
- lower southeastern United States
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer
- Edibility:
- POISONOUS IF INGESTED. NOT a substitute for the star anise spice.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Open
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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)
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A star-shaped fruit no greater than an inch composed of many follicles that split open at maturity. Cannot be used as a spice, unlike its similarly-named counterpart.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- These nodding, imbricate yellow to yellowish-green flowers are 1/2" wide. There are 6-12 petals per flower and flowers have a faint, pleasant scent. They grow solitary at the axils, sometimes in groups of up to 3.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are olive green 2-4 inches long, and half as wide when mature. New foliage is a soft yellow-green. Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptical with a blunt point at the apex, cuneate, entire, and anise-scented. The veins are inconspicuous or difficult to see.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Lenticels
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth to coarse surface with sparse lenticels. Develops some fissures with old age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green, glabrous, stout, and rounded. Buds are unique, medium-large, imbricate, and green. Has a tendency to form suckers at the base.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Heavy Shade
- Insect Pests
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Horses
