Styrax japonica June snow

Styrax japonicus 'June Snow' is a wonderful small tree with a narrow habit that is covered in beautiful pendulous and fragrant flowers in June. Very hardy, compact, and particularly floriferous, it is a beautiful novelty for ornamenting small spaces, or terraces if planted in a large container. To admire it at your leisure, give it a prime location in an ericaceous bed alongside rhododendrons and azaleas.

Originating from Japan, Korea, and China, Japanese Styrax is a deciduous shrub in the Styracaceae family, composed of trees and shrubs with aromatic resin. It is a large ornamental shrub that prefers cool, humus-rich, non-calcareous soil and sunny but not scorching exposures. In recent years cultivars with reduced growth have emerged, such as 'June Snow', obtained in the Netherlands in 1995.

The 'June Snow' Styrax is a shrub of modest size and relatively slow growth. At maturity, it will reach about 4 m in height and 1 m (3ft) in width, depending on the growing conditions. In a container it will remain more compact. Its habit is distinctly upright, supported by branches of brown colour. The foliage, deciduous in winter, glossy, is composed of ovate leaves, 2.5 to 8.5 cm (1 to 3in) long, with dentate edges, of a bright green colour. Before falling in autumn they take on various shades of yellow and orange. In June, and sometimes until August, the branches are adorned with numerous pure white buds resembling snowflakes, which open into small, fragrant flowers. They are bell-shaped, 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, with 5 ovate lobes, adorned with a bouquet of golden stamens in the centre. They are pendulous, solitary or in clusters, beneath the branches. This long-lasting flowering, much visited by pollinating insects, gives way to ovoid, dry fruits of olive green colour. This Styrax has excellent hardiness, around -24°C (1°F).

Styrax June Snow thrives in humus-rich, acidic, cool, and light soils - conditions that also appeal to hydrangeas, with which it combines beautifully. Plant as a solitary specimen near a pathway, or close to the house to fully enjoy its beauty and fragrance. It also stands out on the terrace or balcony, placed in a carefully chosen large pot. It can be associated with low, bushy shrubs such as dwarf rhododendrons, Japanese azaleas (in partial shade), or heathers. Adorn its base with e.g. a small, variegated creeping euonymus (Emerald Gaiety), small periwinkles, and Naples or coum cyclamens.