Splendid snowbell Fragrant tree
with dainty flowers perfect for small yards
If you're
looking for a tree to make an impact, appearance and fragrance wise, check out the
Japanese Snowbell.
``It's a great tree,'' says Eric Bailey, landscape designer at Anderson Garden Center
in Newport News.
York County extension agent Jim Orband echoes those sentiments, especially since the
flowering tree likes sun and is relatively trouble free when it comes to pests and
disease. However, he favors the Fragrant Snowbell variety in the Styrax family because he
likes its larger, rounded leaves.
The tree is a bit on the pricey side - about $90-$125 for a 6-7 foot tree, depending on
its development - so it should go where people can readily see and enjoy its white
flowers, which are small and bell shaped and its tantalizing fragrance.
``It really is a specimen tree,'' says Bailey, meaning it should be a focal point in
your landscape design.
SNOWBELL AT A GLANCE
COMMON NAME: Japanese Snowbell
SPECIES: Styrax japonica
LEAVES: Simple, broad-elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 1-3 1/2 inches long, 1 1/2 inches
wide, medium to dark green in summer, changing to yellowish or reddish in fall. Leaves
perched like butterflies on upper part of stem so flower are not masked.
FLOWERS: White, yellow-stamened, 3/4 inches wide, slightly fragrant, bell-shaped,
May-June.
FRUITS: Drupe, ovoid, about 1/2 inch long, grayish, somewhat attractive; effective in
August, falls by November.
SIZE: Small tree that reaches 9-10 feet over 10-year period, ultimately reaching about
20 feet at the most.
BARK: Gray-brown of smooth consistency but showing irregular, orangish brown and
interlacing fissures; good addition to winter landscape.
CULTURE: Transplant in early spring into moist, well-drained acidic soil that has been
supplemented with lots of peat moss or organic material. Likes full sun or partial shade,
locate carefully to protect against cold climates.
Tolerates clay or sandy soil, says Tim Lucas, spokesman for Raulston Selections, which
are plants deemed valuable for southeast garden after tests at the Raulston Arboretum at
North Carolina State University. Most local garden centers carry Raulston plants. Styrax
japonica was one of J.C. Raulston's favorites, says Lucas of the late horticulturist who
directed the arboretum.
PRUNING: Summer, only if necessary.
PROBLEMS: None.
USES: Good for small gardens.
RELATED SPECIES: Styrax obassia or Fragrant Snowbell, similar tree in height and
fragrant flowers, except leaves are rounded and larger.
Sources: Hillier Gardener's Guide to Trees & Shrubs, local garden centers
OTHER NICE TREES
Other flowering trees good for this area include: Aristocrat and Chanticleer
flowering-pear trees, Cornelian cherry, crab apple, eastern redbud, flowering cherry,
European mountain-ash, dogwoods such as Apple Blossom, Cherokee Chief and White Cloud,
flowering peach, flowering plums, fringetree, goldenraintree, mimosa, saucer magnolia,
Japanese dogwood, sourwood and star magnolia. |