This is my first posting, and I hope to learn lots about plants! My question is: I remember a shrub/small tree in my neighbor's yard when I was young, and would love to know its ID if possible. It seemed to resemble what I have read this week about the star anise. The flowers were not soft, but almost woody, brownish in color, petals were boat-shaped, 5-6-7 of them, and had a very distinctive, strong, earthy beautiful smell. I have not seen or smelled one since but would recognize the smell instantly. The shrub is no longer there, but looked healthy for years, as I recall. The map on your site tells me that star anise is tropical and grows only in the deep south. Could this have been its northern cousin? Thanks, Connie Christian
oh my!! I looked up calycanthus and it just might be it! The pictures bring back many memories and I can almost smell it now. Thanks, Eric.
