Florida anise is an easy-to-grow, Southeastern native shrub that offers year-round garden interest.
The blooms are followed by equally interesting star-shaped fruit.
However, it is an excellent shrub for those whose gardens qualify.
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This guide covers how to plant and grow Florida anise in your garden.
The leaves, fruit, and seeds of Florida anise are toxic to humans and livestockwhen ingested.
Keep them away from children and pets.
Credit: Laurie Black
This shrub spreads by suckers and will naturalize in a moist, shady site if allowed.
If its spread is unwanted, it is easy to remove suckers as they arise.
Because it thrives in moist soils, it is well suited togrowing in a rain garden.
Credit:Denny Schrock
If the native soil is sandy or heavy clay,mix some compost or other organic matter into it.
Remove the Florida anise from its nursery pot and loosen the roots around the surface of the root ball.
Place the root ball in the prepared hole.
Credit: David McDonald
The top of the root ball should be at or slightly above the level of the soil.
When the hole is half-filled, soak the roots with water.
Continue filling until you reach the top of the root ball.
To direct rainwater toward the roots, create a berm around the planting hole.
It produces suckers, but these are easy to remove if you dont want it to spread.
Light
Florida anise prefers a shady location.
A combination ofmorning sun and afternoon shadeworks well.
Soil and Water
A moist,well-drained, slightly acidic soilworks best for Florida anise.
It thrives near wateralong stream banks or a pond.
Keep in mind thatoccasional deep wateringis more beneficial than frequent shallow watering.
Temperature and Humidity
Florida anise is reliably hardy in Zones 7 to 10.
With some protection, it can grow in Zone 6 as well.
Humidity is not a problem for Florida anise.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is necessary at planting time, especially if you amended the soil with compost.
A fertilizer for acid-loving plants, applied per the package directions, is ideal.
Broken branches can and should be removed at any time.
Late winter, before new growth begins, is the best time to do heavier pruning.
When reducing size, cut the branch back to a side branch or bud.
To create a tree form, wait until the shrub is at least 5 feet tall.
Remove lower branches one or two at a time and step back to view the effect.
Continue to remove lower branches until you like the shape.
You may need to remove some branches each year to maintain the tree form.
Be sure the pot has a good drainage holepoor drainage can cause the roots to rot.
Use high-quality potting soil and keep it evenly moist.
A layer of mulch helps prevent the soil from drying out.
Pests and Problems
No serious pests or diseases affect Florida anise.
Its aromatic leaves tend to repel many insects and deer as well.
How to Propagate Anise
Florida anise can be grown from seeds that need no pretreatment to germinate.
It can also bepropagated by stem cuttingstaken in late summer or fall and treated with a rooting hormone.
Root formation usually takes several weeks.
Florida anise also produces suckers, which can be transplanted as new plants, if carefully dug.
This medium-sized shrub grows 6-8 feet tall and produces 2-inch flowers that resemble starfish.
It grows moderately fast to 56 feet tall and wide.
Pink Frost
Illicium floridanumPink Frost is covered by dark green leaves with cream-colored edges.
The leaves turn a pinkish-rose color when the weather turns cold.
In spring, the plant blooms in red flowers for four to six weeks.
This cultivar grows up to 10 feet tall.
This charming evergreen shrub is an excellent addition to a mixed border.
Florida Anise Companion Plants
Rhododendron
Rhododendron(Rhododendronspp.)
is an acid-loving shrub suited to the same moist, shady conditions as Florida anise.
Its spring or summer flowers come in a wide range of colors to brighten a woodland garden.
Zones 310
Leucothoe
Denny Schrock
Low-growingleucothoe(Leucothoespp.)
fills the spaces beneath taller shade-loving shrubs.
Its arching form creates a pleasing contrast to the upright Florida anise.
Its an undemanding and attractive evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest.
Zones 59
Lungwort
Lungwort(Pulmonariaspp.)
is a perennial that works well with other shade plants and adds brightness to dark corners of the garden.
With its spotted leaves and spring flowers, lungwort forms a colorful ground cover when planted beneath Florida anise.
Zones 28
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Florida anise is toxic to humans.
The poisonous compounds are found in the leaves, fruit, and seeds.
The scent of the Florida anise flowers has been described as unpleasantly fishy; they are not fragrant.
Many people enjoy the fragrance of the leaves, although some dont.
It can be grown in full sun only if it is kept consistently moist.
Its best to protect the shrub from afternoon sun.
