Native to China, Vietnam and Myanmar, Illicium majus was pointed out to me in a Te Puke garden recently and I was immediately won over.
The garden owner has several of these evergreen trees, which nectar-eating birds, bees and butterflies love, but has been surprised to find the flower colours have all been slightly different, ranging from a creamy white to this blush-pink, deducing the batch must have been seed grown.
Although this tree is purely ornamental, its cousin, Illicium verum, bears the spice we know as star anise and others are used in making perfume. Illicum were originally considered to be part of the magnolia family.
In the same garden was a line of Drimys winteri trees, also attractive to nectar-eating birds, bees and butterflies. I have posted about this tree from South America before, read that here and please be sure to read the comment posted by a member of the Winter family.
The Architectural Plants website points out an unusual habit this tree has if it gets dry when young – the branches droop, and stay drooped even after it gets enough water. Read more here.
Sandra's Garden 