'Florida Sunshine' is a cultivar introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC. While the species is typically a large, upright, dense evergreen shrub or small tree, this cultivar is smaller and grows bright, chartreuse leaves that become even more strongly yellow in the fall and quite pale in the winter. The stems will also redden with the cool weather, further increasing its ornamental value. The foliage, like the species, produces its characteristic anise-like fragrance. It is best to grow this cultivar in part shade as the leaves can scorch in large amounts of bright sunlight. It is not drought-tolerant and, therefore, requires moist, rich soil to properly grow. Woodland areas are optimal locations and it is a great option to add color to a winter garden. The striking yellow leaves are also attractive in a mixed shrub border. More information on Illicium parviflorum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Fragrant; Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Unlike the species, the leaves are a bright chartreuse-green. While the leaves do not drop off in the fall or winter, they do change color from yellow to parchment-pale.
Fall color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
These imbricate yellow to yellowish-green flowers are 1/2" wide. There are 6-12 petals per flower and flowers have a faint, pleasant scent.
Bloom time
Summer
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The smooth stems change from green in the summer to red in the fall. Like the species, they are glabrous, stout, and rounded with medium-large, imbricate buds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Garden Origin
Play value
Colorful; Fragrance; Screening
Food & Medicine
Edibility
All species and cultivars of Illicium, except for I. verum (Chinese Star Anise), have varying levels of toxicity.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Woodland
Landscape theme
Rain Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Specimen