The Midweek Program - "The Allure of Illicium"

Описание: Presented by Mark Weathington, Director, Evan Villani, Research Technician, and Blake Wentley, Education Assistant, JC Raulston Arboretum on February 4, 2026.

Evergreen, shade-loving, and endlessly intriguing, illiciums have a way of drawing you in. Join Mark and Evan as they take a closer look at hardy, ornamental anise shrubs and reveal why this underappreciated group of plants deserves more attention.

With fragrant foliage, selections that flush new growth in colors you can only imagine, and flowers that range from subtle and refined to outlandish and otherworldly (seriously, some of them look like mole noses and smell like wet dogs; what's not to love?), this genus offers something for just about everyone.

Whether you're new to illiciums or never wander the garden without a licorice-scented leaf smooshed against your face, this program is sure to introduce you to some really neat plants!

Plant list:

Illicium mexicanum 'Aztec Fire'
Illicium anisatum 'Haku'
Illicium lanceolatum
Illicium parviflorum 'Florida Sunshine'
Illicium cubense
Illicium parviflorum
Illicium floridanum f. album
Illicium mexicanum
Illicium floridanum
Illicium 'Woodland Ruby'
Illicium floridanum 'Swamp Hobbit'
Illicium 'NCIH2' (Orion)
Illicium 'NCIH1' (Scorpio)
Illicium anisatum 'Murasaki-no-sato' (Purple Glaze)
Illicium floridanum 'Shady Lady'
Illicium anisatum 'Kogane Fuji'
Illicium simonsii
Illicium wardii
Illicium parviflorum 'Forest Green'
Illicium henryi
Illicium anisatum 'Lemon Squeeze'
Illicium floridanum f. album 'Semmes'
Illicium floridanum 'Halley's Comet'

This program was originally presented live online. Tune into our midweek program live on Zoom, Wednesdays at 3:00pm eastern time. Here's the link: https://jcra.ncsu.edu/midweek/