The Japanese snowbell is a deciduous flowering tree in the storax family (Styracaceae). It is native to Japan, China, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. The species epithet is Latin for "Japanese." Japanese snowbell has 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 does not tolerate heat or drought very well. Consistent moisture is imperative; don't allow the soil to dry out. This tree is moderately salt tolerant. 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. To break seed dormancy, seeds require three to five months of warm stratification, followed by three months of cold stratification. It blooms in late spring, and its fruit ripens in late summer on the current season's growth. The foliage occurs on the upper portion of branches and does not obscure pendulous flowers significantly. The flowers are fragrant, but the fragrance, like that of a privet, is best enjoyed at a distance (the fragrance of the fragrant snowbell [ Styrax obasia ] is better). The bark has irregular, interlacing orange-brown fissures, which adds interest to a winter landscape. It casts a light shade. 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. 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. This is an excellent choice for a hillside or when used as a slope planting. 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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Horizontal; Rounded; Spreading; Vase
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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 inch long.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is an ovoid, dry drupe, with gray-white pendulous. Each contains one seed.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Orange
Bark detail
Gray brown with orange attractive interlacing fissures make an attractive winter garden.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
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.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China to Japan and N. Philippines
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, birds, and other pollinators.
Attracts
Bees; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Fragrance; Pieces Used in Games; Shade
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Patio; Recreational Play Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland