Japanese Snowbell

• Plant Type: Deciduous tree.
• Common Name: Japanese Snowbell, Egonoki.
• Color: White, Pink
• Flower Dimensions: 0.79 inches in diameter.
• Flowering Season: Late in spring (Late May or Early June).
• Places in Japan with Japanese Snowbell: Mountainous areas with taller trees that provide light shade during the day, gardens, cemeteries, temples, parks, and streets.

The Japanese Snowbell is a deciduous tree that can grow to 15-25 feet.

• The leaves of Styrax japonica are alternate and simple. They are broad-elliptic to elliptic-oblong. These leaves are medium to dark green with a measurement of 2.5-9 cm. long and 1.3 to 4 cm wide.
• The flowers of the Japanese snowball are perfect, lightly fragrant, and in bell-shaped form. Each of the flowers is on a pendulous stalk.
• The bark of the Japanese snowbell tree has interlacing orange-brown fissures, adding a landscape characteristic.
• This tree prefers moist and acidic soil. Explore the biological weathering concept.

Interesting Facts about the Japanese Snowbell

• The Japanese snowbell has analgesic effect. Research showed^[1] that its flower extracts possess the capacity to alleviate pain.
• The Japanese Snowbell has an antibacterial property. Extracts from the leaves of the Styrax japonicus^[2] strongly inhibit the growth of Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium.
• Historically, the ‘Japanese Snowbells very hard wood^[3] was consumed for the making of umbrella ribbing, toys, and pieces of Japanese chess.
• The skins of the Japanese Snowbell are mixed with ash and used by the fishermen to capture fish. Also, researchers^[4] stated that the components found from the seed extract manifest solid cytotoxic activities in the brine shrimp lethality test.
• In Japan, the pericarp of the Japanese snowbell is used as washing soap and medicine for cough. An article^[5] also stated that the resin of the plant is insecticidal.

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