Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Trees Japanese Snowbell This tree is a little picky, so you'll need an optimal spot to plant it. By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 7, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Japanese Snowbell Care Must-Knows Thoughtfully select the planting spot for Japanese snowbell because it's known to tolerate a less-than-ideal site for a few years, then abruptly die. It needs rich, well-drained acidic soil, full sun or part shade, and protection from strong wind. This tree's branches grow horizontally so give it room to spread. Japanese snowbell tree won't tolerate drought. It requires consistently moist, but not soggy, soil for best growth. Water young trees regularly during their first year. When nature fails to provide at least an inch of rain in a week, supply 10 gallons of water to the plant's root zone. Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch over the root zone to prevent soil-moisture loss. During the second growing season, you can cut back on watering as much because the tree's roots will have had a chance to grow enough to find water deeper in the soil. Fertilize the tree with a general-purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. The 21 Best Flowers for Wet, Soggy Soil in Your Garden Japanese snowbell tree is slow-growing and requires little pruning other than to remove lower branches, if desired, so there's enough room to walk under the canopy. Late winter or early spring is the best time to prune. More Varieties of Japanese Snowbell Japanese Snowbell Overview Description Japanese snowbell tree is prized for its graceful spreading canopy and white or pink, bell-shape spring flowers. But this small deciduous tree also has a showy trunk and branch structures, dark green foliage through summer, and gray fruit (drupes) from late summer through late fall. It makes a wonderful addition to a patio garden or landscape bed. Planting it alongside a curb adds grace, beauty, and welcome shade to a street scene. Genus Name Styrax Common Name Japanese Snowbell Plant Type Tree Light Part Sun, Sun Height 20 to 20 feet Width null to 30 feet Flower Color Pink, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Spring Bloom Special Features Fragrance Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Fragrant Snowbell Stephen Cridland Styrax obassia is a wild form with smaller, white flowers and a more columnar habit than most snowbells. It features great fall color and grows 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Zones 6-8. 'Pink Chimes' Snowbell Susan A. Roth Styrax japonicus 'Pink Chimes' bears pale pink flowers in late spring and early summer. It grows 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Zones 6-8. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit