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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The hardy anise shrub is a large, upright, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree in the Schisandraceae (starvine) family. The common name refers to the licorice scent of its leaves when brushed or crushed. It is native to the lower southeastern United States and is the most cold hardy of the Illicum species.
The plant should be grown in partial to full shade. It is moderately drought tolerant and can tolerate a range of soil types but prefers moist but well-drained soil. It has a vigorous growth rate, is easy to grow, and reaches 15 to 20 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide with a clumping or sympodial growth habit. It blooms from May to June and may sucker to form colonies. It does not change color in the fall.
Plant this shrub as a screen, a hedge, or along the back of a border in moist, shady areas. It also makes an excellent addition to a woodland garden or as a foundation plant. 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 to 4 inches long
- Has unique, imbricate, green buds
- Flowers are yellowish-green, have 6 to 12 petals, and are 1.5 inches wide
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- 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)
- 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
