Star Anise Illicium
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Star Anise:
- Phonetic Spelling
- il-LISS-ee-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Illicium is a flowering plant genus with 38 species in the Schisandraceae (Star Anise) family. These are native to parts of Asia, the Southeastern United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Most are understory evergreen to semi-evergreen shrubs to small trees. The crushed leaves, stems, and seeds have an anise spice fragrance. The genus name derives from the Latin term "illici" meaning “seductive,” in reference to its scent.
Most prefer part shade to shade, but some varieties will tolerate more sun if given enough moisture. They tolerate loam or sandy soils that are moist to wet with a neutral or acid PH.
In some species, the fragrant flowers are quite showy with attractive seed pods. 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. Use as a specimen, a hedge, or along ponds and streams in a naturalized or woodland garden. Propagate by layering, stem cuttings, or seed. Star Anise is resistant to deer browsing.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.
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:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers
anisatum
- ‘Shady Lady’
Variegated
‘Woodland Ruby’
Long lasting foliage, 6 to 15 foot high bush. floridanum
Bright, aromatic foliage. henryi
Six to eight foot shrub with pink or red blossoms. lanceolatum
Narrow evergreen with small pink flowers. 'Orion'
Compact shrub with multiple blooms of white flowers. parviflorum
Hardy, 15 to 20 feet high, no fall color change. 'Scorpio"
Compact shrub with multiple blooms of red flowers.
hybrid of 'Alba' and I. mexicanum, showy flowers spring and fall - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', anisatum, floridanum, henryi, lanceolatum, 'Orion', parviflorum, 'Scorpio", ‘Shady Lady’, ‘Woodland Ruby’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers
anisatum
- ‘Shady Lady’
Variegated
‘Woodland Ruby’
Long lasting foliage, 6 to 15 foot high bush. floridanum
Bright, aromatic foliage. henryi
Six to eight foot shrub with pink or red blossoms. lanceolatum
Narrow evergreen with small pink flowers. 'Orion'
Compact shrub with multiple blooms of white flowers. parviflorum
Hardy, 15 to 20 feet high, no fall color change. 'Scorpio"
Compact shrub with multiple blooms of red flowers.
hybrid of 'Alba' and I. mexicanum, showy flowers spring and fall - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', anisatum, floridanum, henryi, lanceolatum, 'Orion', parviflorum, 'Scorpio", ‘Shady Lady’, ‘Woodland Ruby’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Illicium
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The seed pods of Illicium verum (Chinese Star Anise) can be used for culinary use in teas and as a spice. All other species have toxic characteristics in leaves, stems, and/or seed pods.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Parts of SE Asia, SE US, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Distribution:
- Alabama, Assam, Borneo, Cambodia, North-Central, South-Central, and Southeast China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Florida, Georgia, Hainan, Haiti, Japan, Korea, Louisiana, Malaya, Central, Gulf, and Northeast Mexico, Mississippi, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Philippines, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides cover for birds.
- Edibility:
- 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil 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, 10a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an aggregate of follicles arranged in a star-shaped whorl.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers consist or 7 to 20 tepals, sometimes more than 20, depending on species. Flowers can also vary in color, size and description depending on species.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate green leaves on petioles have entire margins. Their color (green to purple to varigated), shape, and feel vary depending on species.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Description:
- Stem color will vary depending on the species or cultivar.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
