Attention gardeners in Zones 7 and higher: If you are not growing the Wet Dog Plant, by all means, add it to the top of your native plant wish list. Our Wet Dog Plant, or Florida anise (_Illicium floridanum_) is in spectacular full bloom. I planted it about twenty-five years ago under a white oak canopy, in moist, humus-rich soil, which approximates its native habitat. The Wet Dog has grown into a huge, spreading tree-like shrub, covered in March and April with hundreds of star-shaped, dangling maroon blossoms. Visually, it's a beauty, showy but more subtle in its floral display than the azaleas. It's only offense is that the flowers smell like a wet dog, hence the common name Wet Dog Plant. The Wet Dog Plant's perfume floats for many yards, no doubt beckoning alluringly to whatever insect is in charge of its pollination. In addition to its beautiful but malodorus flowers, the Wet Dog Plant has beautiful, lanceolate evergreen foliage. The Wet Dog's aroma provides a distinct contrast to the fine, sweet fragrances of such other Southern spring garden plants as tea olive, wisteria, banana shrub, Lady Bank's rose, etc.
razorback33
Iris GW
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