styrax
Styrax japonica

Styrax japonicus: Japanese Snowbell

Native to China and Japan – Perfect white bell-shape flowers with light fragrance nod gracefully along the branches in May. Dark green leaves about 2” long turn yellow before dropping in autumn. Decorative green fruit follows flowers into summer.

The overall shape is upright and pyramidal with horizontal side branches, making a nice canopy.

Grows 15-25’ tall and wide, sun-part shade, Zone 5. (Photo credit: Oregon State University)

Styrax 'Carillon'

Styrax japonicus 'Carillon'

Weeping form of Japanese Snowbell with white flowers and somewhat stiff branching creating a broad shrubby shape. Grows to 8-10’ tall and wide, sun-part shade, Zone 5.

Styrax 'Emerald Pagoda'

Styrax japonicus 'Emerald Pagoda'

Everything about ‘Emerald Pagoda’ is bigger than the species. Bigger white flowers, thicker stems, fatter leaves, faster more upright growth. Sadly it loses some of its grace in all of that beefiness, but we still like it.

Grows to 25-30’ tall and wide, sun-part shade, Zone 5.

Styrax 'Pink Chimes'

Styrax japonicus 'Pink Chimes'

Pale pink flowers in May and the same thick green leaves and graceful appearance of its species.

Grows to 15-25’ tall and wide, sun-part shade, Zone 5.


Styrax obassia Fragrant Snowbell

Styrax obassia

Styrax obassia

Intensely fragrant delicate white bell flowers in 4-8 inch chains (racemes) bloom in May-June. Dark green leaves are round and larger than those of Styrax japonicus, somewhat covering flowers. It contributes no real fall color, but the scent in spring makes up for it completely.

Grows 20-30’ tall, 15-20’ wide in a pyramid shape when young, broadening with age. Sun-part shade, Z6.