Illicium, Small-Flowered Anise Tree, Star Anise, Yellow Anise 'Florida Sunshine'

I bought this plant because it was native, shade-tolerant, and smelled like anise (I love licorice and similar smells lol) and it has qui...Read Moreckly become one of my favorite evergreen shrubs for FL

Form is compact and lush. The foliage can be a bright yellowish but when it gets more shade I think it is more subdued, still bright and distinct enough to add interest while still being suitable for less dramatic/more naturalistic beds.

Mine is growing against an east-facing wall where it also gets shaded by the tips of a neighbor's tree. It gets an hour or so of direct sun around noon and the first few months this stressed it but it perked up afterwards (and this is less of an issue now that it's established). Still, in hot areas like FL I would be wary of planting it in full sun unless you have a drip-irrigation system.