The hardy anise shrub is a large, upright, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree in the star-anise family (Schisandraceae). It is native to Florida and is the most cold-hardy of the North American Illicum species. The species epithet is Latin for "small flowered." 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. This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer. The common name refers to the licorice scent of its leaves when brushed or crushed. 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. It’s a good choice for a sensory garden, rain garden, winter garden or woodland garden. 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. 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) | 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
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Open; Oval; Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
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.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Smooth to coarse surface with sparse lenticels. Develops some fissures with old age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Stems are green, glabrous, stout, and rounded. Buds are unique, medium-large, imbricate, and green. Has a tendency to form suckers at the base.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Florida and Dominican Republic
Distribution
Florida.
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Edibility
POISONOUS IF INGESTED. NOT a substitute for the star anise spice.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Garden for the Blind; Rain Garden; Shade Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small Tree
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Diseases; Heavy Shade; Insect Pests; Wet Soil
Particularly resistant to
deer
Propagation
Layering; Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Fruits; Leaves; Seeds
Poison symptoms
Poisonous to humans and livestock if ingested. NOT a substitute for the star anise spice. All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.