Shrubs
Styrax, Genus, americanus, Species,
- Genus & species
American snowbell
Overview
Styrax americanus is a deciduous shrub, 6–10 feet (1.8–3 m) tall and 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) wide, with a loose, upright to rounded habit and slender, zigzag twigs. Leaves are alternate, elliptic to obovate, 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) long, with entire or shallowly toothed margins, bright green above and paler beneath. Flowers are white, bell-shaped, 0.5–0.75 inch (12–19 mm) long, with five recurved petals and yellow anthers, and hang from short stalks in clusters of 1–4 along the branches. Fruit is a dry, grey, egg-shaped drupe about 0.3 inch (8 mm) long. Fall foliage is yellow and often sparse. Growth is moderate at 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) per year. Plants sucker only weakly. The species depends on consistently moist soil and shows leaf scorch and dieback in dry summers, and plants are short-lived in soils that dry out.
Native Range
Native to the southeastern United States, from Virginia and southern Illinois south to Florida and east Texas, growing in swamps, wet woods, and along stream banks on the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.Suggested Uses
Used in rain gardens, stream banks, and wet woodland edges, spaced 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) apart. Grown as a native flowering shrub in southeastern gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 10'
Width/Spread6' - 8'
Bloom Information
Blooms in May–June for 2–3 weeks, with flowers opening after leaf-out along the previous year's growth. Flowers are white with a light fragrance and hang in clusters of 1–4. Bees visit the flowers, and grey drupes ripen from August to October.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White with yellow anthersFoliage Description
Bright green, yellow in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part shade to full sun with 4–8 hours of direct sun, and needs constantly moist to wet, acidic soil with a pH of 5.0–6.5. Hardy in USDA zones 6–9, and some references list zone 5 with shelter. Plants receive 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week in dry periods. A 3-inch (7.5 cm) mulch layer helps retain soil moisture. Tolerates periodic flooding and stream-bank conditions. Alkaline or droughty soils cause chlorosis and dieback.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Dead or crossing stems are removed in late winter, and shaping cuts are made immediately after flowering in June. Older stems can be cut to 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground to renew a shrub that has become sparse.Pruning Schedule
Prune: February & June
wintersummer
Container Growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons
