Meet the Chinese Anise Tree
Chinese Anise Tree | Illicium lanceolatum
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a small evergreen tree.
I have alternate leaves with a thick, leathery texture. They have the look of being bunched together, especially at the ends of my branches.
My leaves are broad, pointed-oval shaped, and smell like anise when crushed.
I have small, orangey-pink flowers with cupped petals and a waxy texture. They hang off my stems like little pendulums.
My flowers give way to star-shaped seed pods, with 10-13 points and hooked ends.
I have smooth, grey-brown bark.
How big do I grow?: 8’ - 10’ height and spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: I prefer part shade to full shade, but will tolerate more sun if given plenty of moisture.
Where I prefer to put my roots: Loamy, rich soils with consistent moisture. I can handle occasionally wet soils.
Hardiness: Zone 7-10
Original home: I am native to China.
Colors: I have small pink flowers.
When I bloom: Spring to early summer.
Wildlife friends: I’m not really a significant pollinator plant or wildlife supporter.
Flora Fun Facts: Deer do not like my anise flavor, so I am considered deer-resistant.
More Info: This tropical-looking tree has candy-like spring flowers that dangle among thick foliage. A fairly uncommon find in the eastern US, this tree stays compact and is right at home in moist shade.
A member of the Schisandraceae family.
Also goes my the common names of Guangdong Star Anise, or Anisetree.
An appropriate plant selection for a specimen tree, or along water features / riparian areas.
This plant is poisonous to humans! The star anise seed pod of the Illicium verum is safe for human consumption, but NOT off this plant. You can tell them apart by the number of branches on the star - Illicium lanceolatum has 10-13 points to its star-shaped pods, with hooked tips, whereas Illicium verum typically has 8 points in a regular star shape.
