Brand:  U.S. National Arboretum

Description:

A dainty small accent tree, featuring prolific white bell-shaped flowers which hang loosely from its upright branches in spring; bud break occurs two to three weeks later than typical, making this selection great for areas subject to late spring freezes

Ornamental Features

Spring Showers Japanese Snowbell features dainty lightly-scented nodding white bell-shaped flowers hanging below the branches in late spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The oval leaves turn an outstanding buttery yellow in the fall. The fruits are showy gray drupes displayed from late summer to late fall. The smooth khaki (brownish-green) bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Spring Showers Japanese Snowbell is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Invasive

Spring Showers Japanese Snowbell is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Spring Showers Japanese Snowbell will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.