Styrax japonicus - Shrub - Japanese Snowbell Page

Discover the uniquely beautiful and slightly underused tree, famously known as the Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus). This small yet stunning plant is native to China and Japan and adds an aesthetic touch to your patio or lawn with its rounded horizontally layered crown. The tree's crown is composed of gorgeous ¾" fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens, growing in pendulous stalks in small clusters. In the cold winter months, the tree reveals its true beauty with gray-brown branches decorated with alluring orange streaks. The tree thrives best in moist, acid, organic soil.

Styrax japonicus reaches a height and spread of about 20-30’ and on rare occasions, can grow up to an impressive 50'. One of its unique features is its clusters of bell-shaped, mildly fragrant, waxy white flowers that bloom from May to June. Leaf size is approximately 3" long, and during fall, they sometimes turn from a medium to deep green color into hues of yellow to red. Post flowering, it produces greenish-brown, olive-shaped, rugose fruit that persists into late autumn.

Japanese Snowbell is a diligently shaped winter-friendly tree that is vibrant and fragrant. The gray bark on older branches peels off to reveal an orange inner layer. It is an elegant addition to your exteriors, resembling the Halesia (silverbell). Add an oriental charm to your lawn or patio with Japanese Snowbell.