Silver Bells Styrax japonicus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- STYE-racks juh-PON-ih-kus
- Description
-
The Japanese Snowbell is a deciduous flowering tree with a relatively compact habit that can be vase-shaped when young but with low horizontal branching and a more broadly rounded crown with age. It prefers moist, acidic well-drained soil in the full sun to partial shade. It casts a light shade. This tree is moderately salt tolerant.
The hard wood from this plant has been used to make the ribbing for umbrellas as well as toys. Its branches were used for walking sticks.
It blooms in late spring and its fruit ripens in late summer on the current season's growth. The foliage occurs on upper portion of branches and does not obscure pendulous flowers significantly. The bark has irregular, interlacing orange-brown fissures which adds interest to a winter landscape. This is an excellent choice for a hillside or when uses as a slope planting. Consistent moisture is imperative, don't allow the soil to dry out.
Plant near a patio, in a lawn, a border or in small groupings. Plant it alongside a building on the northern side to protect it from strong winds and to provide a lovely dappled shade for under plantings. It does not tolerate heat or drought very well.
Winter pruning can be done to control the shape of this tree.
Seedlings may volunteer, so care should be exercised when using this plant where its seedlings may escape and naturalize.
Quick ID
- Bell-shaped, pendulous white flowers on short lateral shoots
- Deciduous small tree has foliage on branch tips
- Brown bark with interlacing orange-brown fissures
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Relatively insect and disease free.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Carillon'
Weeping form; hardy to Zone 6 - 'Crystal'
Black-green foliage, hardy to Zone 5
'Emerald Pagoda'
- 'Evening Light'
White flowers and purple leaves. - 'Issai'
Grows quickly, hardy to Zone 6 - 'Pendula'
Weeping, cascading branches. - 'Pink Chimes'
Willowy branches, pink flowers - 'Pink Chimes'
Pink flowers, hardy to Zone 6 - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Snow Cone'
White bell-shaped flowers - 'Sohuksan'
Darker green foliage; larger, white flowers
Larger leaves and flowers - 'Carillon'
- 'Carillon', 'Crystal', 'Emerald Pagoda', 'Evening Light', 'Issai', 'Pendula', 'Pink Chimes', 'Pink Chimes', 'Rosea', 'Snow Cone', 'Sohuksan'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carillon'
Weeping form; hardy to Zone 6 - 'Crystal'
Black-green foliage, hardy to Zone 5
'Emerald Pagoda'
- 'Evening Light'
White flowers and purple leaves. - 'Issai'
Grows quickly, hardy to Zone 6 - 'Pendula'
Weeping, cascading branches. - 'Pink Chimes'
Willowy branches, pink flowers - 'Pink Chimes'
Pink flowers, hardy to Zone 6 - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Snow Cone'
White bell-shaped flowers - 'Sohuksan'
Darker green foliage; larger, white flowers
Larger leaves and flowers - 'Carillon'
- 'Carillon', 'Crystal', 'Emerald Pagoda', 'Evening Light', 'Issai', 'Pendula', 'Pink Chimes', 'Pink Chimes', 'Rosea', 'Snow Cone', 'Sohuksan'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Styrax
- Species:
- japonicus
- Family:
- Styracaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Japan and N. Philippines
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, birds, and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Shade
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Problem free flowering tree.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Horizontal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an ovoid, dry drupe, with gray-white pendulous. Each contain 1-seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The waxy flowers are white, slightly fragrant, and campanulate. The stamens are yellow. They are <1 inch and born on short lateral shoots on long pedicels. The corolla is 5-lobed and united near base; stamens yellow; pedicel 1.5" long. Styrax obasia has more fragrant flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate and simple. They are broad-elliptic to elliptic-oblong, acuminate, cuneate. They are shallowly toothed, and dark glossy green. They are 1"-3" long and 1" wide.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Gray brown with orange attractive interlacing fissures make an attractive winter garden.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Stems are multi-stemmed, however, can be pruned to take on a tree forms. The stems are light brown, zigzag, leaf scars 2-ranked. They have irregular orange-brown fissures.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
