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Illicium parviflorum, commonly known as hardy anise, yellow anise, or small anise tree, is a native North American evergreen shrub or small tree in the star-anise family, prized for its dense, upright to rounded growth habit and aromatic foliage. Its shiny, elliptic to lance-shaped, olive-green to dark green leaves are leathery and emit a pleasant anise or licorice-like fragrance when crushed, providing year-round interest and texture. In late spring to early summer (typically May to June), it produces small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers with numerous tepals (about 1/2 inch across) that are often overlooked amid the foliage. These are followed by distinctive star-shaped, greenish to yellowish capsules that mature to brown and split open to release seeds, adding subtle ornamental detail. This adaptable, moderately drought-tolerant species thrives in partial to full shade with moist, well-drained, preferably acidic or rich soils, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, screening, or naturalistic plantings where its fragrance, deer resistance, and wildlife value (such as cover for birds) shine.
ORIGIN - Southeast native
EXPOSURE PREFERENCE - Shade, tolerates am sun
FLOWER COLOR - greenish yellow
HEIGHT - 15-20 ft
HABIT - evergreen
MOISTURE - drought tolerant
HARDINESS ZONES - 6-9
Illicium parviflorum, commonly known as hardy anise, yellow anise, or small anise tree, is a native North American evergreen shrub or small tree in the star-anise family, prized for its dense, upright to rounded growth habit and aromatic foliage. Its shiny, elliptic to lance-shaped, olive-green to dark green leaves are leathery and emit a pleasant anise or licorice-like fragrance when crushed, providing year-round interest and texture. In late spring to early summer (typically May to June), it produces small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers with numerous tepals (about 1/2 inch across) that are often overlooked amid the foliage. These are followed by distinctive star-shaped, greenish to yellowish capsules that mature to brown and split open to release seeds, adding subtle ornamental detail. This adaptable, moderately drought-tolerant species thrives in partial to full shade with moist, well-drained, preferably acidic or rich soils, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, screening, or naturalistic plantings where its fragrance, deer resistance, and wildlife value (such as cover for birds) shine.
ORIGIN - Southeast native
EXPOSURE PREFERENCE - Shade, tolerates am sun
FLOWER COLOR - greenish yellow
HEIGHT - 15-20 ft
HABIT - evergreen
MOISTURE - drought tolerant
HARDINESS ZONES - 6-9
