Styrax americanus

Common Names

American Snowbell, Mock Orange, Storax

Summary

Styrax americanus is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, commonly known as American snowbell or storax, it typically grows about 6–12 ft tall and wide in a multi‑stem form with slender branches, and leaves that are elliptic to obovate up to about 10 cm long, in spring it bears fragrant white, bell‑shaped flowers with reflexed petals, followed by fruit that develops later, it prefers moist, acidic soils and tolerates sun to partial shade in wet sites, making it suitable for wetlands, stream banks, and swamp margins in landscape plantings, Hardy in USDA zones 5–9, Styrax americanus is used as an ornamental specimen or in native plantings and can be propagated by seed or softwood cuttings, pruning in winter helps shape, and the plant provides wildlife value as a host to the Promethea moth and is attractive to pollinators

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-10 feet

Spread

6-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic, well-drained sandy loam–based soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

4.5-8.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (March–June).

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Styrax americanus attracts bees, butterflies, and birds.