Japanese Snowbell
Styrax japonica
Learn about the Japanese Snowbell including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Family: Styracaeae
Type
Deciduous
Fall color
Flowering
Pollinator habitat
Size
Medium (25-50 feet)
Small (less than 25 feet)
Traits
- Oval- or football-shaped leaves
- Masses of drooping white flowers in the spring
- Half-inch-long oval fruit that hangs under the branches
Native Range
- Japan
- China
Story of the Tree
A mature, magnificent specimen is found in the courtyard west of Office Building 2 (OB2) on East Campus. It was planted at this location to add a soft contrast to the surrounding concrete walls and staircase and to add shade to the courtyard.
White flowers bloom and hang from this tree in the spring. They are particularly delightful when observed from underneath the tree canopy, either while resting on a bench or walking up the nearby staircase.
The wood of this trees species is used to build Japanese bowed string instruments.
