Demystifying Illicium in Florida

Illicium floridanum has red flowers and dark green leaves alternatly spiralled around the stem with a bluntly pointed leaf tip. There are two synonyms which are thought of as commercial cultivars by the horticultural community.

Illicium floridanum forma album F.G. Meyer & Mazzeo, (Sida 15:285 1992). These plants have white flowers instead of red. It was found along a stream NW of Monticello on 14 Apr 1988 and I have heard has a very restricted range in Florida and Alabama. This forma is available at Breezy Oaks Nursery in Hawthorn and sold as an “albino” flower.

There is a Mexican population of I. floridanum which is sometimes referred to by what is considered to be its synonym
Illicium mexicanum A.C. Smith (Sargentia 7:39 1947). – The type specimen was collected in Veracruz Mexico in 1912. Some horticulturalists make a distinction between the two for commercial reasons. It has been referred to in the paleobotanical literature trying to determine the origin of angiosperms.

Illicium parviflorum is available locally. Its dark green leaves have rounded tips. Yellow flowers bloom in early summer are ½ inch wide. It has been suggested as a replacement for Photinia X fraseri. Its range extends from zones 6 to 9. It is found in the wild around central Florida and in southern Georgia.

Illicium anisetum is the imported species from China, Japan, Korea, Ryukyus and Taiwan. It has elliptic lighter green leaves than those of I. parviflorum that are very aromatic. Mid spring flowers are white to creamy yellow but are often sheared off to maintain the size of the rapidly growing shrub.

Illicium henryi (Henry anise-tree) comes from western China. It has a pointed apex on the leaf and variegated pink, white, red flowers. It grows throughout growing ranges 7 to 9.

For a good summary on the variety of Illicium grown in the United States I found this summary:
(http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/publications/newsletters/ncsu_arboretum_newsletters/News23_92-08.html)