Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Schisandraceae

Genus:

Illicium

Species:

Illicium verum

USDA Symbol:

ILVE2

Growth Characteristics

Height:

1500 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Bloom Colors:

pink, red, white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

thrives in subtropical climates

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Seeds have double dormancy and germination can be erratic. Fresh seed germinates best; viability declines rapidly with storage.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI