Anise, Japanese

Illicium anisatum is an upright, rounded, bushy shrub or small tree that attains a height of 10 to 15 feet. The foliage of this plant is exceptional. The tree-like form is oval-shaped with a crown 8-15 feet. This plant is most useful as the base green mass in a shrub border. Its large size makes it well suited for creating a screen to maintain a visual and noise barrier. The anise tree is ideal for shady natural areas and may also be used for foundation plantings if you do not mind the regular clipping that will be needed to maintain it as a hedge. Some people have trained them into small trees for planting near a patio or deck.

In contrast to Illicium parviflorum and Illicium floridanum, the evergreen leaves of Illicium anisatum are a lustrous medium to dark green color with undulate margins. All anise leaves smell a little like root beer when they are crushed. Leaves of anise tree are generally 2 to 4 inches long, a little smaller than those on the other two species. Leaves are Leaf arrangement: alternate, simple, undulate margins, ovate shape, leaf venation none or difficult to see, ultimate characteristic is fragrance, length 2 to 4 inches, color is shades of green, no fall color change and not showy.

Many yellowish-white or greenish-white flowers, with up to 30 petals, are produced in spring. These axillary flowers are star-shaped and some no fragrance to a pleasant scent, but can be showy if you are close to the plant. They are produced in abundance in some years. The fruits of the anise tree are star-shaped follicles 0.5 to 1 inch that are dry or hard, greenish and inconspicuous and not showy that eventually release dark brown seeds.

The bark and branches are typically multi-trunked or clumping stems. The tree can be trained to grow with a short, single trunk; not particularly showy.

Has few known pests. On windy and sunny days, the smell from the foliage can be quite pleasant, Note: do not confuse this shrub with Japanese Star Anise which is quite toxic.