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Illicium floridanum - J.Ellis.

Common Name Aniseed Tree, Florida anisetree, Purple Anise, Star Anise, Florida anise
Family Illiciaceae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, at least one other member of the genus has a fruit that is poisonous in quantity[19, 177].
Habitats Lowland wet areas, often in sandy soils along streams, swamps and at the head of bays[229], in light woodland and thickets[200].
Range South-eastern N. America - Florida to Louisiana.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Illicium floridanum Aniseed Tree, Florida anisetree, Purple Anise, Star Anise, Florida anise


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Illicium floridanum Aniseed Tree, Florida anisetree, Purple Anise, Star Anise, Florida anise
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, Purple, Red. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Illicium floridanum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment

Said to be used as a spice[105, 177, 183]. No further details are given, but the leaves have a strong aroma of aniseed[245].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Pest tolerant, Massing, Screen, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a light, moist well-drained loam and a sheltered position[1, 11] Prefers a humus-rich lime-free soil[182, 200]. A plant of woodland shade in its native habitat, in the less sunny British climate it succeeds in sun or semi-shade[200, 260]. This species is not very cold-hardy, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c, only succeeding outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[1, 11, 166]. A slow-growing tree[229], the whole plant is very aromatic[182]. The bruised leaves have a strong scent of aniseed, whilst the flowers have a powerful spicy odour[245]. Suckers can spring up at some distance from the parent plant[260]. Special Features:Attracts birds, Attractive foliage, North American native, Fragrant foliage, Wetlands plant, Suitable for cut flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 7. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. A clumping plant, forming a colony from shoots away from the crown but with a limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - it does not require pre-treatment and can be sown in early spring in a greenhouse[113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and give some protection from the cold over the winter for the first year or two. Layering in early spring. Takes 18 months[78]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame[113]. Pot up the cuttings when they start to root and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting out after the last expected frosts. Suckers are sometimes produced at some distance from the parent plant. These suckers can be potted up in early spring, then grown on for a year before planting them out into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Illicium anisatumStar Anise, Chinese Anise,Japanese AniseShrub6.0 7-10 SLMSNM12 
Illicium verumBa Jiao Hui Xian, Staranise treeTree5.0 7-10  LMSNM331

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

J.Ellis.

Botanical References

72200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Paul   Sun May 30 18:09:58 2004

I bought some anaseed balls from a sweet shop and i tried to grow an anaseed tree from several seeds from the centre of my sweets. One germinated and now i have a small anaseed plant. I live in Central Scotland, can any one give me any advice for growing my tree? P.S. I don't have a green house.

Please reply, Regards, Paul.

Tom Borg   Tue May 2 2006

We have this growing, with the related illicium anisatum, in Cheshire. Planted about 18 years ago they are compact shrubs that have proved completely hardy - at least to our lowest recorded of -13C. Although both plants are fragrant, I would not describe it as a 'powerful' odour, you have to get the nose in to detect, and floridanum is the least of the two! Both easy from cuttings and highly recommended evergreens, have never set seed with us.

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