Japanese Snowbell
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Spacing: 20-25'
- Exposure: Sun/Part Shade
- Deer Resistant: Yes
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The Japanese Snowbell tree is an exquisite flowering tree with soft-spoken charms and a trouble-free nature. It's a mystery to us why it hasn't caught on with the general public! With its umbrella-like habit, this small to medium-sized tree was made to shade a cozy seating area, and in late spring this is where you'll want to be, as its sparkling what blossoms are best seen from below. The flowers' soft, sweet fragrance makes the space under it sheltering branches even more inviting, and on the balmy evenings leading up to summer, this will be your favorite place to unwind.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Spacing: 20-25'
- Exposure: Sun/Part Shade
- Deer Resistant: Yes
- Show more ›
The Story
Richard Oldham was a young gardener, sent by the Royal Botanical Garden Kew to explore the Orient and collect plant specimens in 1861. Under orders from the director Sir William Hooker he was required to stay on ships, however suffering from seasickness this did not go well.
Botanists often wrote letters to KEW reporting reasons that have prevented them from doing their work. Poor weather, transportation problems, shortage of money or illness. Although Richard Oldman experiences all of these he also wrote of the dangers of headhunting. He wrote that he could not explore the mountains near Tamsuy because Spring was the season Taiwanese aborigines collected heads to gain favor with unmarried women. Hooker had little sympathy for him and saw his slow progress as laziness. At just 23 years old, he managed to collect and send back over 13,000 plant specimens one being the Styrax Japonica Japanese Snowball, under some of the most undesirable conditions. He decided to take it upon himself to leave the ship and travel to Taiwan to further his collections, this was looked at as a resignation by Hooker and RGB Kew stopped his funding. He eventually succumbed to dysentery and died at the age of 27.
The Details
This tree will "ring your bell." Clusters of charming white, hanging, "bell-shaped" flowers bloom in June and the attractive dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. This wonderful specimen tree will create a graceful atmosphere in your outdoor living space.
How to Grow
Snowbell likes full sun but also tolerates light shade. Snowbell does best in organic, moist, well-drained soils and prefer to be in an area protected from wind. They are also relatively free of insect problems. Snowbells will respond well to a once a year application of low rate tree fertilizer in the fall. Pruning requirements are practically non-existent. If your Japanese Snowbells get a little out of hand, you can keep them under control by shearing them after flowering. Yes, I said shearing. Literally taking hedge shearers and cutting it back. Believe me, your Snowbell will respond well to this type of pruning.
More Info
Size Guide
Scale
Size B
This graphic shows the approximate size and form of the Tree you are viewing.
Size A Trees:
5-6' tall. Grown in our #7 tree container. The hard work has been done for you. Enjoy watching this tree grow for years to come!
Size B Trees:
8-10' tall. Grown in our #15 tree container with strong caliper normally around 1 1/2". Well branched, fully branched and great structure. Wide and lower branching allowed.
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