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Illicium parviflorum

Yellow Anise Tree

Pronunciation
ill-LISS-i-um par-vi-FLOR-um
Family
Genus
Nativity

Georgia and Florida, in the coastal plain, in sandy swamps and wet areas.

Growth Habit

Upright oval to pyramidal but suckering to form thickets.

Hardiness
7
Culture

Sun to shade, growing best in partial shade. Likes ample moisture but will tolerate dry site better than other Illicium.

Facultative Status
Facultative Wetland
Landscape Use

The most outstanding attribute of Small Anise-tree over the other Illicium species is the olive green color of the foliage. Good for naturalization due to its suckering habit. In other landscapes, suckers need to be controlled to maintain a consistent plant.

Foliage

Olive green foliage. Alternate, oval-elliptic, 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide. Leaves toward the tip are usually held at 45 degrees to the stem. Leaves with a pleasant anise odor.

Buds

Flower buds - large, imbricate, green; vegetative buds - smaller, imbricate, plump, green.

Flower

In the axils of the leaves, small, .5 inch in diameter or less, yellow-green without any odor. Flowers in May-June.

Fruit

Follicle, starting green and maturing to brown.

Propagation

Seed, cutting.

Pests
None serious.

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