Styrax japonica Fragrant Fountain®

The Styrax japonica 'Fragrant Fountain' will delight fans of original plants. Still relatively rare, this recent variety of Japanese Styrax is a true gem! Its weeping habit is particularly elegant and its small size makes it suitable for even the smallest gardens. From late May onwards, it is covered in a profusion of small white flowers, hanging down like delicate, fragrant bells. And to finish the season in style, this miniature tree adopts a yellow or red autumnal foliage, which is very attractive. Hardy and adaptable, this Styrax thrives in full sun or partial shade, in a moist, neutral or acidic soil.

Originating from Japan, Korea and China, the Japanese Styrax is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Styracaceae family, which includes trees and shrubs with aromatic resin. Quite confidential, this plant family is not very common in our regions, with the exception of the Halesia carolina, the other genera being found only among collectors or in botanical gardens. In a few rare locations in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes regions, you can find the Styrax officinalis (aliboufier), the only representative of the genus in the Mediterranean area. The Styrax japonica is a large ornamental bush that thrives in partial shade and in a moist, humus-rich, non-calcareous soil. In recent years, cultivars with reduced growth and more colorful foliage have been developed, such as 'Evening Light', which was recently obtained in the Netherlands.

'Fragrant Fountain', on the other hand, is a variety selected in Oregon, United States, by Crispin's Creation nursery, and patented upon its introduction to the market in 2009. It is a large shrub or small tree that will reach a height of 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) and a width of 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) after 10 years. Eventually, it will reach a height of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) and a width of 2 m (6 ft 7 in).
Its habit is very graphic with its very dense branches that hang down to the ground, concealing the trunk, and its bright green leaves that provide a beautiful visual contrast with the gray tone of the branches. From late May and for about a month, it is covered in small, fragrant white flowers (hence its English name "fragrant fountain"). These white, pendulous flowers open up into charming little bells, with a bouquet of yellow stamens bursting from their center. Grouped in small clusters, they beautifully adorn the foliage of this weeping plant, offering a spectacle imbued with poetry and delicacy.
The flowering is followed in late summer and autumn by fruits (drupes) similar to small olives and gray in colour. Finally, before falling, the foliage takes on a superb yellow or red colour during the first autumnal cold snaps.
This miniature tree is very hardy (-20°C) and can be planted in full sun, although it will appreciate partial shade in hot regions. It dislikes drought and limestone soils in particular.

This Styrax Fragrant Fountain will generally thrive in the same conditions as the Hortensia macrophylla, with which it will perfectly blend in a flower bed, while adding a touch of originality. It also has the same needs as the Stewartia pseudocamellia, which is also quite confidential, despite its many aesthetic qualities (flowering, autumn colouration, decorative wood). To stay in the realm of rare plants, you can also associate it with a Sarcococca, a small shrub with fragrant winter flowers, and in the background, why not enjoy the magic of Hamamelis, with their spider-like winter blooms and explosion of autumn colours?