Styrax obassia

Fragrant snowbell is a large bush or a small tree which, in spite of its name, does not bear highly fragrant flowers. It is closely related to Japanese snowbell and comes from the same regions of Asia: Korea, China, and Japan. Compared with the latter, it has bigger, almost rounded leaves with a pointed tip. They are deciduous, rich green in summer and yellow in autumn. Fully leaved tree resembles eastern redbud (cercis canadensis).

It produces high quantity of snow-white, bell shaped flowers, composed in slightly pendent or horizontal racemes in June. They are followed by hard-shell, grey-green, oval to rounded fruit. This plant makes a graceful tree with almost horizontal, tiered branches that form an attractive, nearly flat canopy when mature.

Grow it as a specimen shrub or in a mixed border with lower shrubs. It is usually pest and disease free. It needs moist, acidic soil, humus-rich soil. A location protected from drying winds is preferred but not necessary. Pruning is best done in early spring. Fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 22-01-2013.