FNPS Plant Database

Illicium parviflorum

yellow star anise
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

yellow star anise

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Illicium parviflorum

Family:

Illiciaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

15-20 ft tall by 10-15 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms in spring. Fruits ripen late summer-fall.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Hedges, specimen shrubs, screens, foundation plantings.

Considerations:

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Light:

Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

Stays wet -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic to slightly alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Insect pollinated.

Native Habitats:

Bottomland forest, hydric hammock, baygall, banks of spring run and seepage streams, wet upland mixed forest. Can be seen near several of the spring runs in Ocala National Forest.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The leaves and fruits of this species are poisonous making it resistant to insects and deer browse.

General Comments:

The natural range of this plant is quite limited, but it has become a native landscaping favorite over a much broader range.

Citations:

Chafin, L. G. (2000). Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL.


Gilman, Edward F., Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen. (2023). Illicium parviflorum Anise, Yellow Anisetree, Star Anise. ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP278 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Missouri Botanical Garden. (Undated). Plant Profile: Illicium parviflorum 'Florence'. ( http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=301121 ). Accessed 2026. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


North Carolina State Extension. (Undated). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. ( https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/ ). North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University, Greensboro, NC.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Beta testing new plant sheet (there may be errors):
FNPS Plant Print

Request an update