Illicium mexicanum (Yucca Do Collection)

Mexican Anise. This collection of Illicium mexicanum was made by the folks at Yucca Do Nursery in Texas, and it is from a completely different provenance than the one most frequently grown in the nursery trade, which was an introduction of the U. S. National Arboretum and was from a much more southernly location in Mexico than this selection. The U. S. National Arboretum collection is more lax and spreading; whereas, the Yucca Do collection is more stout and upright, resembling the growth habit of Illicium floridanum. It has the same characteristics of I. mexicanum in that it flowers in the fall and spring with the same burgundy flowers of the species. I would suggest growing it with some shade. Some sources list it as a zone 7b-9 plant, but I would suggest it might be much more cold hardy and is worth trying in more northern climates. It also posses the same endearing quality of most all anise in being deer resistant.

Zones 7-9