Illicium x 'Woodland Ruby' is a new Anise Tree that is a cross between Illicium floridanum from the southeastern U.S. and a rare species, Illicium mexicanum, found in Mexico. What sets Woodland Ruby apart from other species are the larger, more spectacular, vibrant purple-red to rose-pink flowers that appear over a longer period from spring to mid-summer. Handsome and large anise-scented evergreen leaves provide a lush, tropical effect on a rounded shrub or small tree to 8 feet tall and wide at maturity, making it an excellent choice as a specimen, natural hedge, or as a really neat container plant in shade or part shade. Right at home in the woodland garden!

Growing 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide, Woodland Ruby Anise is ideal for use in the landscape as a specimen or accent, in groupings or as a natural hedge in shady to partially shaded landscape borders and home foundation plantings. Also great for containers. A fine addition to woodland gardens, fragrance gardens, shade gardens, red theme gardens, and North American native plant gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedges;  12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note:  For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Anise is not winter hardy, you'll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Anise.