Florida Anise

Illicium floridanum

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub

Height at Maturity: 10-15′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: 6′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Bushy

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Dark Red, Maroon

Flower Size: Medium-2″

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Berries/ Pods: Yes

Sun Needs: Full To Mostly Shade, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist, Moderately Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Insect

Descriptions

Excellent for use as an evergreen privacy screen in shade or as a large specimen shrub or small tree, Florida Anise is one of the most dependable broad-leaved evergreen shrubs for the shade garden and sites with consistently moist soil. In spring, this North American native produces uniquely shaped, dark red 2-inch diameter flowers with many strap-like petals. Its thick, glossy dark green leaves that are 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide adorn the tree year-round. A whiff of the leaves reveals a pleasant anise scent that tempts the passerby to tear a leaf in order to enjoy the spicy aroma.

Landscape & Garden Uses

With an upright habit and rounded form 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, Florida Anise is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or as a natural evergreen hedge or privacy screen in shady sites with consistently moist soil. As this anise grows taller lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive evergreen focal point specimen tree. Also ideal for use in home foundation plantings to frame corners or as espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) between widely-spaced windows or on windowless walls.

Suggested Spacing: 6 feet apart for solid hedges; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where Florida Anise is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Florida Anise is very easy to grow in organically rich, moist but well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. For best appearance and performance we recommend some shade in the afternoon. No pruning necessary. That said, plants can be clipped to control height or for shaping purposes.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to get helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Anise.

How To Plant & Care For Anise Shrubs & Trees

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the Illicium I received.
I have planted it with others I have and its looking great.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Received 2 very healthy and robust-looking Florida Anise shrubs of good size (2-3 feet). Look forward to seeing them thrive in my yard. Will definitely buy again at this place.———————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

All of the plants arrived healthy and in great shape. They were packaged with great care, and they are beautiful.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The Illicium floridanum plant arrived at my home just a few days after ordering. It was well packed and arrived in perfect condition. The plant is large with a healthy root system. The roots fill the 3 gallon pot but not to the point of being pot bound. The shrub is planted in it’s new home and is doing well. I am an avid gardener and buy lots of plants. This was my first purchase from Wilson Brothers and I am very impressed with the plant quality and service.———————————————–Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The Anise was in great condition and shipping was easy to communicate with Wilson Bros. It was packaged very well. I have ordered this plant from Top Tropicals and it came with disease and was not as vigorous. I would definitely recommend Wilson Bros Gardens!————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The Florida Anise arrived in excellent condition; well packaged; and on time. Nice size. I hope it lives. The leaves smell of the spice — nice surprise. I am excited to see the flowers when it blooms. As usual, I was not disappointed with my purchase from Wilson Broths. Thank you.————————-Thanks for the kind words! We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Beautiful, large and healthy plants. Very pleased.—————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I made the mistake of planting this in full sun. It is not looking so good. Do not yet know if it is going to survive. But again my fault not Wilson Bros————————-Do you have a shady spot? If so you could move it and give it a better chance. 🙁 Beth | WBG

I have ordered many plants from many nurseries but y’all are hands down the best I’ve found. The Plants that I receive from y’all are always so beautiful……..never a dead one yet!……and I’ve ordered many. And if you have any questions about anything, Jen at customer service is so very nice and helpful. I can’t say enough good things about y’all. It’s almost unbelievable. Keep up the good work. Y’all are by far the best.————————————-We are so glad you are plesed! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG

Beautiful 3′ Florida anise arrived. Very full and large. Excellent quality.————————————Hi Mary, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Florida Anise. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I was very pleased with the quality of this shrub when it arrived. It’s healthy and shaped nicely. I can’t wait for it to bloom!—————————WBG Reply: Hi June, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Florida Anise. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

This was my first purchase from Wilson Brothers, but it won’t be my last. The plant I received was beautiful, I was pleasantly surprised at how large and full it was. Shipping was fast and well packaged. I could not have asked for more. ———————– WBG Reply: Hi Susan – Thanks so much for your review of the Florida Anise and the compliments! We hope you enjoy the Anise for many years to come and let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

The Florida Anise arrived in great shape. They were more than expected. The first set of plants I ordered, I killed by over watering. These plants are doing great now that I have diagnosed my problems.. ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Rusty – Thanks so much for your review of the Florida Anise and hope you enjoy them for years to come. Sorry to hear about the loss of your first plantings but glad you now know how to avoid that problem in future. We gardeners all learn by trial and error. You can always look under the Planting & Care tab on any page in the website to find helpful tips. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for there don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Plant came through in great shape. Doing very well in a partially shaded area. Great plant. ——————— WBG Reply: Hi Randall – Thanks for your review of the Florida Anise and we hope you enjoy it for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you., We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

I ordered a Florida Anise. It arrived in perfect condition. I planted it immediately and it is doing great.. I am very pleased. I just place another order! Bobbie ——————– WBG Reply: Hi Bobbie – Thanks so much for your review of the Florida Anise and for your other order! Glad to hear the Anise is doing great and hope you enjoy it for many years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Bought 5 of the Florida Anise to form a hedge in a shady area that stays damp almost all the time. Our yard was honored Fall 2014 with the Gold Level FL Friendly Landscape award so natives are definitely on our list. This was actually listed in their manual. These plants arrived in excellent condition. The packaging is so terrific, nothing could damage them during delivery unless a 747 landed on it. They were planted immediately. They are doing great. Definitely would recommend purchasing this plant from Wilson Bros Gardens.

The Anise came undamaged and looked very nice. I have already planted it in a shady spot next to my Patio and am enjoying the aroma