Florida anisetree
Illicium floridanum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Florida anisetree is an evergreen shrub with dark maroon flowers that open in April and May. It favors shaded sites and consistently moist soil, often along streambanks and in damp woodlands of the Gulf Coast region.
Toxicity unknown
Florida anisetree (Illicium floridanum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
shade
Water
high
Size
72"–120" H × 60"–96" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 1 more states
Pollinators
flies, beetles
Before you buy
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A rounded evergreen shrub with leathery aromatic leaves and nodding star-shaped maroon-red flowers with many narrow petals. It is one of the few broadleaf evergreens that thrives in deep shade and consistently wet soil.
Growing Florida anisetree
Grow Florida anisetree in shade and high water. Mature plants reach 72 to 120 inches tall and spread 60 to 96 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Provides dense year-round evergreen cover for birds in shaded, wet ground where few shrubs persist.
Common questions
- When does Illicium floridanum bloom?
- Florida anisetree typically flowers in April and May, producing star shaped maroon blossoms along its branches.
- What pollinates Florida anisetree?
- The flowers have a musky scent that draws flies and beetles, which act as the primary pollinators for this shrub.
- How much light does Florida anisetree need?
- This shrub grows best in part shade to full shade. Deep shade under a tree canopy mimics the woodland understory conditions it favors.
- How much water does Florida anisetree require?
- Florida anisetree prefers consistently moist to wet soil and does not tolerate extended dry spells well, so regular watering or a naturally damp site suits it best.
- Does Florida anisetree lose its leaves in winter?
- No, it is an evergreen shrub and keeps its glossy foliage year round.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Florida anisetree? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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