PlantFiles: Japanese Snowbell
Styrax japonicus

Last year I planted a Styrax japonicus purchased at a fine nursery; it is in part sun, part shade as per this area (San Jose California.) When purchased it was blooming; the fruits formed, and all seemed fine. This year the new leaves came, and two (2) blossoms, no fruit. I have continued to water it more than I would an established tree. But the seemingly healthy leaves are now burned looking, half brown. I am interested in nutritional requirements; or should I move it or give up! As is, it's not happy and neither am I.

I have three Styrax japonica planted in a large bed bordering the sidewalk. They are best enjoyed up close.

They do not always flower every year. Not sure why, or why they either all flower or all fail to flower.

Had a terrible cotton scale infestation this year! Sprayed with Safer's insecticidal soap (which seemed to bother the Heuchera's underneath, alas) and that seems to be working well.

Growing well.
Has put out 2 new trunks which I don't want.
Needs to be in good close viewing position. I did not do this and regret it. The tree looks like a dirty white mess from a 75 foot distance (my kitchen window).
It has also been badly deformed by our constant west winds. Find a calm, intimate place for this otherwise lovely small tree.

The magnificent Japanese Snowbell tree in our side yard on Cape Cod, (planted when 4' high in 1999 in sandy loam), has thousands of little pendulous bells along the underside of its branches in June. Since the beauty of the blossoms is seen from beneath the branches, buyers would be well advised to plant it on a ridge or height of land where you would be able to walk beneath it. Mine is planted above and behind a 4" stone retaining wall where a stone stairway meanders downhill to the side... a perfect view.Spectacular view from inside too, as it is now (in 2006) just over 15' high and apparently will grow to 20-30 feet! Regarding propogation, simply let the green pearl-like seeds fall to the ground beneath , where many seedlings will flourish and you can then pot them and give them away to your friends and neighbours! Maybe I should be SELLING them? Foot high seedlings which I gave to a friend in 2002 are now 4' high and beginning to bloom nicely.

There's a styrax growing in a park near my house- it's absolutely gorgeous in summer when it flowers. The scent blows on the breeze, and you can smell it from twenty feet away. I've just planted one in the front garden, and hope mine will flower soon. Mind you, the one in the park is probably 30 feet tall, so I doubt I'll be able to smell mine without bending down (it's only 2 feet tall!).

Incidentally, the one I just planted was left in its pot with absolutely no care (yes, I am feeling guilty) for a year before I finally got round to planting it, and it stilll survived.

When I planted this tree it had a single trunk . Due to having to move it during a drought and not being able to keep it watered as it should have been, this 15' tall tree became infested with bores and I cut it down. Almost immediately new shoots started developing. Now my multi-stemmed tree is prettier than ever with more blooms. It has become one of the focal points in my garden while in bloom. During the 10 years of having this tree it has been through a lot and only gets better.