Silver Bells Styrax japonicus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- STYE-racks juh-PON-ih-kus
- Description
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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. casts light shade. This tree is moderately salt tolerant. Blooms in late spring and fruit ripens in late summer; foliage occurs on upper portion of branches and does not obscure pendulous flowers significantly; bark has irregular, interlacing orange-brown fissures which adds interest to a winter landscape; excellent for hillside or slope planting, but needs consistent moisture. 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 underplantings. It does not tolerate heat or drought very well.
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
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Emerald Pagoda'
- 'Pendula'
Weeping - 'Pink Chimes'
Willowy branches, pink flowers - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Snow Cone'
- 'Sohuksan'
Darker green foliage; larger, white flowers
Larger leaves and flowers - 'Pendula'
- 'Emerald Pagoda', 'Pendula', 'Pink Chimes', 'Rosea', 'Snow Cone', 'Sohuksan'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Emerald Pagoda'
- 'Pendula'
Weeping - 'Pink Chimes'
Willowy branches, pink flowers - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Snow Cone'
- 'Sohuksan'
Darker green foliage; larger, white flowers
Larger leaves and flowers - 'Pendula'
- 'Emerald Pagoda', 'Pendula', 'Pink Chimes', 'Rosea', 'Snow Cone', 'Sohuksan'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Styrax
- Species:
- japonicus
- Family:
- Styracaceae
- 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
- 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
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is an ovoid, dry drupe, gray-white pendulous, 1-seeded.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, slightly fragrant, and campanulate. 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:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Gray brown with orange attractive interlacing fissures
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Stems are light brown, zig-zag, leaf scars 2-ranked; irregular orange-brown fissures.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
