With one-story homes being built the country over, new homeowners are realizing more and more that it’s no longer necessary to plant trees that grow to the 150′ foot giants. Trees under 30′ feet are in ever-increasing demand, especially those with exciting spring flowers.
The Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonica) meets both of these specifications, sometimes called the Japanese snowdrop. Indeed, this native of Japan and Korea, which can be grown as a shrub or small tree, is admirably suited to the grounds of a modern home.
The Japanese snowbell produces several widespread, gracefully arching branches from the base when grown as a large shrub. A 15’ foot bush may have a spread of 20′ feet or more. Grown as a tree with a single trunk, the width is not as great.
But either way, the dense habit of the plant makes it a good screen, and the delightful flowers on the underside of the branches prove surprisingly beautiful in late May or early June. White, slightly bell-shaped with prominent yellow stamens, the 3/4″ inch blossoms swing gracefully on long pendulous stalks an inch or more below the branchlets.
Since the dark green, fine-textured leaves (1″ to 3″ inches long by 1/2″ to 1 1/2″ inches wide) are borne in a horizontal plane, they do not detract from or hide the flowers hanging below them. For the best display of this plant, place it so that viewers will look up at it and fully enjoy the beauty of the blossoms.
The branches, too, are horizontal, giving the tree a decided flat-topped appearance, an effect which goes very well with today’s low houses and ideally suits the tree for use beneath electric wires. Pruning which augments this flat-topped habit does not detract from the tree’s natural beauty.
The fruits are small drupes. Though not ornamental, they are often profusely produced. When dried, stored over winter, and sown in spring, they create a fine crop of seedlings. Volunteer seedlings often come up under old trees.
Trees Give Modest Shade All Day
In Japan, this tree is native to mountainous areas where taller trees provide light shade during most of the day. Here in America, the Japanese snow-bell thrives in the same situations as our native dogwood and is hardy wherever flowering dogwood can be grown.
It also thrives beneath tall Douglas firs on the northwest Pacific coast, which provide a high canopy of light foliage and excellent, moist soil for the roots.
Although it has been growing in the Arnold Arboretum since 1892, this plant is still little known among most amateur gardeners. The reasons are twofold.
First, it is difficult to transplant. It’s often safest to set it out in its permanent situation as a pot-grown plant.
Secondly, while young and small, it is susceptible to late frost injury in spring. As a result, some folks who have attempted to grow it have been sadly disappointed.
However, neither trait will prove troublesome if pot-grown plants are purchased, and the young trees are given the best winter protection for the first few years.
Afterward, they seem to be perfectly hardy in average winters. This plant is a low-maintenance subject in that it has no serious insect or disease pests.
After observing the performance of the Japanese snowbell in the Arnold Arboretum for 20 years, Ernest H. Wilson reported that it is one of the most floriferous and beautiful of the smaller trees that can be grown in ibis climate.
44659 by Donald Wyman