Description
Illicum –
There are about 40 species of aromatic, evergreen shrubs and small tree , in this genus. They occur in woodland in India, Eastern Asia, and Southeastern USA, and the West Indies. They are grown for their thick, glossy leaves, held alternately or in near-whorls, and their unusually fragrant, Magnolia like, cream to reddish purple flowers, which composed of numerous tepals and their woody, 8 pointed, star shaped fruits. Grow in a woodland garden or shrub border.
Grow in moist but well drained, humus rich, acidic soil, in full to partial shade but will with stand full sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds.
Prone to bacterial spot, anthracnose, stem canker, root tots, and crown rots.
I. verum – Chinese Anise – Star Anise – This small, rounded, evergreen tree from China and North Vietnam grows to 60′ feet tall and 20-40′ feet wide although usually less in cultivation. It produces inversely lance shaped to narrowly elliptic, sharply pointed, glossy, leathery , deep green leaves, to 6″ long, with prominent mid rib. In spring and early summer it bears many petaled star shaped, white flowers, ½” across, with pink or red flushed yellow tepals, followed by star shaped, glossy, red brown fruit.
Zones 7-9
