You may be tempted to reach for those Ray-Bans the first time you lay eyes on ‘Florida Sunshine,’ but you’d miss the brilliant, chartreuse foliage. So keep those shades in your pocket and bask in the beauty of this evergreen shrub.
Tony Avent, founder of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, N.C., acquired three golden seedlings of Illicium parviflorum (a rare Florida native) from plantsman Charles Webb. After several years of evaluation, Avent and his team selected one plant for introduction as ‘Florida Sunshine.’ As its name suggests, the foliage color evokes images of the bright Florida sun.
It features chartreuse foliage in spring and summer, turning to a “screaming yellow” in fall, says Avent. In midwinter, the leaves turn a parchment color and the stems turn bright red for an appealing contrast.
This evergreen shrub, also called the anise tree, gives off a licorice scent. Typically growing to 5 feet tall, this shrub grows best in part shade.
Why grow Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine?’
• Evergreen chartreuse foliage in the shade.
• Emits a licorice scent (hence the common name anise tree).
• Heat, humidity and drought resistant, once established.
• Not favored by deer.
Photo courtesy of Plant Delights Nursery
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