Japanese Snowbell
(Styrax japonicus)
Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
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harum.koh
CC BY-SA 4.0
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harum.koh
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CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: harum.koh | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Rights Holder: harum.koh | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2018-06-03T17:03:10-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Styrax japonicus, commonly known as Japanese Snowbell, is a deciduous flowering tree or shrub native to forest edges and hillsides in East Asia, including Korea, Japan, and China. It typically grows to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 8 m (26 ft) broad, featuring a rounded canopy with horizontal branching. The leaves are oval, upward-facing, and turn yellow or orange in autumn, providing seasonal interest. From late spring to early summer, it produces masses of slightly fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers that are highly ornamental and hang delicately from the branches, creating a stunning display. The flowers give way to olive-like green drupes that mature to a dark, almost black color.
Japanese Snowbell is valued for its elegant form, showy flowers, and relatively small size, which makes it suitable for residential gardens and urban landscapes. It is also used as a specimen tree or for border planting. This species prefers a sheltered location with full sun to dappled shade and thrives in acid to neutral soil with good drainage. While it is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F), it benefits from protection from harsh winds. The cultivar ’Fargesii’ is notable for its larger flowers and leaves and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Japanese Snowbell has no significant disease or pest problems, but it can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soils. It is not known for aggressive roots or invasiveness.CC BY-SA 4.0
Japanese Snowbell is valued for its elegant form, showy flowers, and relatively small size, which makes it suitable for residential gardens and urban landscapes. It is also used as a specimen tree or for border planting. This species prefers a sheltered location with full sun to dappled shade and thrives in acid to neutral soil with good drainage. While it is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F), it benefits from protection from harsh winds. The cultivar ’Fargesii’ is notable for its larger flowers and leaves and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Japanese Snowbell has no significant disease or pest problems, but it can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soils. It is not known for aggressive roots or invasiveness.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree
- Height: 20-30 feet
- Width: 20-30 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Fragrant, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Forest edges and hillsides in East Asia
Other Names
Common Names: Japanese Storax , Japansk Storax
Scientific Names: Styrax japonicus , Styrax grandiflorus , Styrax japonicus var. japonicus , Styrax japonicus var. kotoensis , Styrax kotoensis , Styrax japonicus f. jippei-kawakamii , Styrax japonicus f. rubicalyx , Styrax philippinensis , Styrax duclouxii , Styrax touchanensis
GBIF Accepted Name: Styrax japonicus Siebold & Zucc.