Styrax obassia

RHS Plant Profile
fragrant snowbell

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fragrant snowbell RHS
fragrant snowbell Dorling Kindersley 2003
Trees
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A deciduous tree of rounded habit with broadly-ovate or rounded, dark green leaves to 20cm in length. Bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers 2.5cm in length, borne in racemes to 20cm in length

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Styracaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Styrax can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with simple, alternate leaves and nodding bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers in spring or summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China to Korea, Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in moist, humus-rich, fertile soils but shelter from cold drying winds. Well-suited to a woodland garden

Propagation

Propagate from seed sown at 15°C reducing the temperature to 0 to 5°C after 3 months. Propagate by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility