BananAppeal Anise
Illicium parviflorum 'BananAppeal'BananAppeal Anise is a standout shade-loving evergreen that brings a luminous touch to dim garden corners with its vibrant golden foliage. Compact and naturally mounding, it’s a refined cultivar of the Florida anise tree, well-suited for use as a foundation plant, low hedge, or specimen in woodland or shaded urban landscapes.
Unlike more common privets or boxwoods, this shrub offers unique aromatic leaves that release a subtle anise fragrance when brushed or crushed. Its naturally tidy shape and pest resistance make it especially appealing for low-maintenance, deer-resistant landscapes. The foliage maintains its cheerful color throughout the year, with minimal fading, even in the heat and humidity of southern gardens.
Though its yellow flowers are subtle and not its main feature, the foliage provides all-season interest. Its adaptability to dry shade, combined with its resistance to disease and deer, makes BananAppeal an excellent alternative to more commonly overused evergreen shrubs.
care instructions:
Planting: Choose a site with partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Avoid intense afternoon sun, which may bleach or scorch the foliage. Space plants 3–4 feet apart when massing.
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during the first growing season. After establishment, the plant becomes moderately drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells.
Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed due to its naturally compact shape. If desired, prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain form or remove any damaged branches.
Pest Control: Very pest and disease-resistant.
Soil Tips: Prefers rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil but adapts to clay and sandy soils with organic matter. Mulch regularly to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
