Illiciaceae

• Illicium floridanum
• Illicium oligandrum

• Common Name: Purple Anise, Florida Anise
• Family: Illiciaceae A.C. Sm.

• Country of Origin: Southeastern N. America - Florida to Louisiana.
• Habitat: Lowland wet areas, often in sandy soils along streams, swamp

• Description: Purple Anise is a shrub that is easy to care for and reaches about ten feet in height. Its leaves are leathery, oval shape and have a spicy fragrance of that of anise. In late spring, early summer the maroon fragrant flowers emerge and last for quit awhile. The blooms are about a inch in diameter and the fragrance isn't as delightful as the foliage. Therefore planting might be away from doorways.
  Purple Anise prefers light shade and is a good backround plant for smaller shrubs or perennials. There are a variety of cultivars for different color of flowers, yellow to pink-white.