Japanese Snowbells: How to Grow a Japanese Snowbell Tree

The Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus) is a deciduous flowering tree native to China, Japan, the Philippines, and Korea. Other common names for the tree include Japanese Styrax, silver bells, white bells, or Japanese snowdrops. It features glossy green foliage, small fruits called drupes, and showy bell-like white flowers with a mild fragrance that attracts pollinators.

The Japanese snowbell grows slowly and stays relatively small (reaching around thirty feet tall when mature), making it a popular ornamental tree in decorative garden design. The prime season for these flowering trees is early to late spring, when their blossoms are in full bloom. The Japanese snowbell bears small fruits in the late summer and displays minimal fall color before dropping its leaves.

Japanese snowbell is a slow grower, and propagating it from cuttings or growing it from seed can take years before you see results. The quickest way to cultivate a hardy Japanese snowbell tree is to transplant a rooted planting purchased from your local nursery. Here is an overview of how to grow the Japanese snowbell:

1. 1. Wait for late spring. Plant Japanese snowbells in late spring, after the last threat of the last frost of the season has reliably passed. Learn how to determine frost dates.
2. 2. Choose a planting site. Choose a garden planting spot for your tree that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, because Japanese snowbell thrives in full sun. In areas with summers over ninety degrees Fahrenheit, the tree benefits from partial shade during the day’s hottest temperatures.
3. 3. Prepare the soil. Japanese snowbells aren’t picky and can thrive in various soil textures and nutrient levels. Plant your Japanese snowbell in well-draining, slightly acidic soil for best results.
4. 4. Dig the hole. Dig a hole slightly larger than your Japanese snowbell plant’s root ball, with at least three feet of space around it to accommodate the tree’s roots as it grows. If you’re planting multiple Japanese snowbells, give them plenty of space to accommodate a thirty-foot spread, which is how far they can reach upon maturity.
5. 5. Plant the tree. Use your hands to gently loosen up the tree’s root ball. Place the Japanese snowbell’s root ball into the dug hole, and backfill it with soil so that the top of the root ball is level with the top of the hole. Once the hole is half full of soil, soak the hole with water from a gardening hose to remove any air pockets in the soil. Continue to backfill the hole until there is no more empty space around the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil, then water the plant deeply.
6. 6. Water the area weekly. Water your Japanese snowbell tree thoroughly each week for its first year of growth until it is established.

Japanese snowbell trees are low-maintenance and require basic care. Follow these tips to help your Japanese snowbell plant thrive.

• Keep the soil moist. Japanese snowbell trees don’t respond well to dry soil, so plant them in a spot where the soil can stay evenly moist, like an area with healthy rainfall or near a body of water. During times of drought, supplement natural water with frequent waterings or a drip irrigation system to maintain soil moisture.
• Protect it from harsh temperatures. Japanese snowbell trees thrive in mild temperatures, with multiple varieties functioning best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8. Keep in mind that the plant isn’t tolerant of extreme temperatures. Certain types can withstand temps as low as five degrees Fahrenheit (especially when gardeners shelter them from strong winds with a hill or building) or as high as ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit (especially in partial shade during high afternoon heat).
• Prune occasionally. Japanese snowbells are slow-growing trees, so you don’t need to prune them frequently to maintain their shape. In their first years, young trees will be vase-shaped and grow more horizontal branches as they mature into a rounded crown. In terms of pruning, simply evaluate the tree in fall or late winter to see if there are any dying branches to trim away or places to prune for your desired shape.
• Monitor for pests and disease. Japanese snowbell trees aren’t common targets for pests or diseases. Sometimes, aphids or ambrosia beetles may occur on new or stressed leaves—simply spray them off with a sharp jet from the hose.

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