Styrax obassia
Common name: 
Fragrant Snowbell
Pronunciation: 
STI-raks o-BAS-e-a
Family: 
Styracaceae
Genus: 
Styrax
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree, 20-30 ft (7.6-9 m), upright and pyramidal-oval when young, rounded with age.  Leaves alternate, simple, broad ovate, fairly large, 7.5-20 cm long, 2/3 as wide, abruptly acuminate, remotely toothed (occasionally obvious), dark green above, pubescent beneath; base of petiole (leaf stalk) encloses bud.  Flowers white, fragrant, 2 cm wide, pendulous, borne in 10-20 cm long drooping clusters (racemes).  Fruit 2 cm long, ovoid.
  • Sun to part shade.  Few pests
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native to Japan
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: northeast of Bexell Hall.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • branches, flowering

    branches, flowering

  • leaf and flowers

    leaf and flowers

  • leaves

    leaves

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • fruit cluster and fruit

    fruit cluster and fruit

  • leaf petiole and enclosed bud

    leaf petiole and enclosed bud

  • trunk and bark

    trunk and bark

  • winter twigs and buds, comparison

    winter twigs and buds, comparison