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Styrax japonicus
Also called Japanese Storax, Snowbell Tree
Japanese snowbell is a graceful, spreading deciduous tree or large shrub that bears masses of bell-shaped white flowers in early summer, followed by olive-like fruits. It grows best in a sheltered spot in sun or dappled shade with moist, acidic to neutral soil.
Styrax japonicus (野茉莉; also エゴノキ, egonoki), also known as the Japanese snowbell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Styracaceae, native to Korea, Japan, and Southern China. Growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 8 m (26 ft) broad, it is a graceful, spreading deciduous tree with oval, upward-facing leaves which occasionally turn yellow or orange before falling in autumn. Masses of slightly fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers hang from the branches in summer, followed by fruits (drupes) which resemble olives in both shape and colour.
It is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F), but prefers a sheltered position in full sun or dappled shade, with acidic or neutral soil.
The first introduction of Styrax to the West was by Richard Oldham in 1862. Styrax japonicus is known to be one of the most cultivated species in North American and European gardens and one of the most common Styrax cultivars. It has been cultivated for its pendulous forms, flower color, dwarfism, foliage colorization (such as burgundy leaves), and temperature tolerance.
In particular, the Japanese name Benibana (ベニバナ) Group, refers to cultivars with pink flowers and is inclusive of the cultivar 'Pink Chimes'. Japanese gardeners use the term Beniego (ベニエゴ) to describe this cultivar.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Styrax japonicus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
