Illicium parviflorum (Yellow Anise/ Ocala Anise)

Description

 Illicium parviflorumYellow Anise is one the best Southeastern native shrubs for screening in full shade. This evergreen shrub is native to Florida and nowhere else, however it is completely hardy throughout the Coastal Plain of SC and GA and probably farther north as well.  I have seen old ones that have persisted for decades around abandoned homes, but I have never seen it invade natural areas. It can grow 15-20′ tall and wide.. but can be maintained to 6′-8′ by cutting the tallest shoots to the ground periodically. It provides good nesting sites for birds.  It thrives in average to moist soil, in sun or shade. They are generally deer-resistant. I have only seen deer browse them in one garden, and that was a year which we had a late freeze, followed by a summer drought, so the deer didn’t have many choices on the menu.