Wikimedia Commons
Schisandraceae
Florida Anise Tree
Illicium floridanum
Southern mystery and aromatic allure.
- Family
- Schisandraceae
- Genus
- Illicium
- Native to
- southeastern United States
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- evergreen shrub or small tree
- Height
- 200–500 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full shade
- Soil
- moist, acidic, humus-rich
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 6–9
- Lifespan
- perennial; long-lived
Did you know
- All parts of the plant are aromatic; crushed leaves smell strongly of anise, though it is unrelated to culinary anise.
- The star-shaped dark red flowers have a musty, fishy scent — unusual and not universally admired.
- Unlike culinary star anise (Illicium verum), Florida anise is toxic and should never be consumed.
- It is one of the few broad-leaved evergreen shrubs native to the southeastern US that thrives in deep shade.
- The unusual flowers have strap-like tepals (20–30 per flower) arranged in a spidery, star-like pattern.
Color meanings
Dark Red
deep southern mystery