This evergreen shrub is an NCSU introduction from Tom Ranney, bred at the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab. It is a hybrid between the species I. floridanum and I. mexicanum which are now classified under the former's name. The large, pale white flowers bloom multiple times throughout the year and the shrub is compact in shape and size. Some people find the odor of the flowers objectionable. It does best in partial shade and moist soil, tolerating shady, damp, and wet sites well. More information on Illicium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | 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
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Smooth
Leaf value
Fragrant; Long-lasting
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The fragrant, glossy, leathery leaves are evergreen, staying on the plant all year long. They are yellow-green in color and arranged alternately to almost whorled on the stems. The veining is reticulate.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This cultivar has large, yellowish-white flowers with numerous strap-shaped, radial petals (averages 22). They are solitary and are outward-facing to nodding. They last 5-10 days and each has a slight anise fragrance. The shrub itself has two main bloom seasons, first in April-May and again in September-November, blooming sporadically in between.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A star-shaped follicetum about an inch in diameter, yellow-green when immature and brown when mature. 9-14 seeds per fruit.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Light Brown; Light Gray
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Lateral branches range between 7.5 and 18 inches long. The shape is rounded and has a very thin diameter, no more than 1/4 inch. Internodes are between 2.5 and 5 inches long. The stem surface is smooth, the color yellow-green maturing to a grey-brown.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Hybrid origin
Attracts
Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Fragrance
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Edibility
All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.