RE: Styrax

Dear Tim,
 
I grew Styrax japonica when I lived near Mount Lassen at 4500 foot elevation.  I purchased the plant as a 5 gallon specimen at Upcountry Gardens (they made a point of carrying plants suitable for the mountains and if you are in that area the nursery is worth a visit) in Shingletown.  The Stryax had several very fragrant blossoms when I purchased the plant.  I seem to remember reading a suggestion to plant the Styrax on a hillside where you could look up into the tree from below and enjoy the fragrant blooms, so I planted it above our patio in a three foot high raised bed with native volcanic soil.  The plant was located in dappled shade since our property had very large pine tree cover.  During the growing season the plant received regular water since our soil dried out very quickly.  There was a heavy snow cover most of the next winter and the Styrax did just fine.  The next spring it produced about 12 blossoms.  Our location had very nutrient poor soil and I suspect if I had amended the soil before planting the tree it would have done much better.  We moved later that same year so I am not sure how well the plant is doing at this time.  There were also two more of the Styrax japonica planted in front of a local restaurant above Shingletown, and those also had a few blossoms in the spring. 
 
Linda Starr
Springville Gardens
Lavender & Flower Farm
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