Styrax japonicus 'Purple Dress'

Japanese snowbell tree, Styrax japonicus, is a popular tree for small gardens. Its wide, fan-shaped branches are covered with cascades of bell-shaped, white flowers in summer, and the pale green leaves turn a fantastic shade of yellow before falling in autumn. An unusual garden tree, it looks fantastic growing at the pond edge, where its branches can hang over the surface of the water, or next to a garden path.

Styrax japonicus 'Purple Dress' is a particularly ornamental variety, bearing purple, oval leaves, which contrast beautifully with the masses of bell-shaped, pale pink flowers in mid-summer.

Grow Styrax japonicus 'Purple Dress' in moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered spot in full sun to partial shade. Prune annually to restrict its size.