Hardiness of Styrax japonicus cvs (and other hardiness ???)

While I am planning my new garden and allocating space for favorite woodies, I am curious about the experience of our experienced growers in zone 5 and the cooler parts of zone 6(a) with this species. I have long admired this species in east coast and west coast gardens, even though it is perhaps a bit unidimensional in being mainly of interest during the flowering season. I have seen the straight species, and 'Pink Chimes', and in my old garden for 3 years I grew the striking cultivar 'Emerald Pagoda'. This one is purported by Dirr to be hardier than the other selections. I found a 6' 'Emerald Pagoda' at a local specialty nursery, and I grew it for several years. 2 and 3 years after planting, it grew like a weed, and produced a fabulous display of fragrant large pendulous flowers. And when not in bloom it was quite beautiful (well, for a tree lover it was, other people would say "what's the point?"). But it did indeed have large lustrous almost tropical looking foliage, and attractive branching which spiralled around the plant at almost perfect 60 degree angles, each third branch directly above the one three below. Then, after putting on another 6' of growth, we had a true z5 winter, -15F, and it croaked like a sissy. Too bad. I have never seen any Styrax japonicus grown to maturity in any garden hereabouts.

Can people elsewhere in zones 5 and 6a grow S. japonicus? What cultivars? I have a fairly dainty plant, with the name 'Snow Fairy' I think, that had survived 2 normal winters out in the woods at my new place. But I am unsure whether to give it a primo spot or just let it mark time.

BTW, I did also have a good sized S. obassia at my old garden that was maybe 15' tall and went through the same -15F winter without batting an eye. Lovely plant, and when not in bloom it stumped most woody plant experts who visited the garden. They didn't have a clue what it was. It is really quite elegant in all seasons, with the stature of a good small beech or carpinus. Very handsome smooth gray bark and elegant branching. I would also love to hear people chime in on the hardiness and garden worthiness of Styrax americana, which I have never seen or grown but am interested in.

And one more unrelated hardiness question.............I also bought a beautiful good sized Stachyurus praecox from Arrowhead Alpines a couple of years ago planted at the new place. It didn't bloom the after the first winter, but late last winter, planted in the most protected spot on the east side of my house, its primrose chains were positively lovely above the early hellebores. It produced lovely red-orange fall color. Zowie! I hope it makes it, and it looks like we may get another really mild one for it to get really established. What experience do zone 5 and 6a-ers have with this plant?

Thanks, David

Please find one of my favorite trees that I left behind in Seattle. I have tried 3 so far and have given up here in 4B. I want a tree that blooms on my birthday and make me happy. I have been successful only with Halesia. Good luck David. I want a hearty Styrax!

'Emerald Meadow'(NOT Pagoda) is still thriving here after 7 years, at least -20F, and several regular Zone 5 winters(its over at my old house). Never a scratch. I have several 2 year old plants I grew from seed from that tree that are doing fine here. Greer Gardens sells it--its a Handy Nursery introduction.

72178 ‘Emerald Meadow’ — This Handy selection is a very fast grower with a well balanced branching habit and a nice strong leader. As the tree matures, it will take on a broad, pyramidal structure. An extraordinarily heavy bloomer with flowers and leaves significantly larger than the species. We’re happy to be able to offer this one. 2-3' $44.95

and from Handy Nursery:

Emerald Pagoda Japanese Snowbell

Habit
Fast growing selection, which is distinctly upright with a tight pyramidal outline, which becomes somewhat more conical and open crowned with age.

Bark
Orange-brown interlacing fissures.

Flower
Often 30 percent larger than the species, born in large numbers of hanging clusters of fragrant white bell shaped blooms in May-June.

Foliage
Very large rounded leaves are up to twice as big as the species. In addition they are a very rich waxy dark green and have a leathery thickly textured look. Seems to be quite heat tolerant. Solid yellow fall color.

Ht./Sp. 20 to 25 feet / 15 to 20 feet

Zone 5 to 8

Note
Still a seldom found selection due to propagation difficulties, hard to find an area where it is not an improvement upon the species




Arborvillage used to sell 'Crystal' which Lanny said was perfectly hardy, and the hardiest he had grown. They actually have had no issues with S. confusus and S. hemsleyana either. S. obassia is fine here. S. americaus has had occasional dieback. It's definitely a shrub, with lots of stems, and great flowers. Otherwise, not very interesting. Make sure you get the Kankakee version from northern Illinois.

This message was edited Dec 30, 2006 10:23 PM

Thanks a bunch Kevin for that info. I am off to Greer Gardens too for Emerald Meadow. Irrespective of what Handy says, I am not sure I would try Emerald Pagoda again. It was obviously not hardy at -15F (and that was only a day or 2 at that temperature, in a very wind protected spot too). For those who want a hardier Styrax, I would definitely recommend S. obassia. It is a wonderful plant. Any experience with S americana? (Oops now I see Kevin commented on this one too -- thanks for the feedback).

AND NOW for my other question, do you other zone 5 and 6a-ers grow Stachyurus praecox? It is certainly a lovely. worth a try

This message was edited Dec 31, 2006 8:11 AM

Thanks for the info on Stachyurus praecox. Had never heard of that before.

Because "Emerald Meadow" and "Emerald Pagoda" seem so different from the type, I'm wondering if there has been any discussion on these being hybrids, a subspecies, or even a different species? Or, could they be tetraploids?

Scott

Diversion from my other thread, while pics are uploading...

Scott asks good questions. These are possibilities, but what I have understood (in years of watching Styrax japonica perform poorly in the Ohio River valley) is that much of the available germplasm was from very restricted provenance.

Now, with many more plant explorations to collect seed from throughout the range of Styrax japonica (and many many other Asian species) and evaluation of the proceeds, there are these stellar new selections to satisfy Styracaceae-ophiles.

I have Styrax ameracanus(Kankakee strain) just west of Minneapolis. This is the fourth winter, but none have been a true test for my zone. Died back some from a winter with -20F. But no dieback and bloomed the next year after -25F. No mulch that winter either (it all blew away), and little snow. They are still too small to comment on garden worthiness.

Planted Styrax obassia from Seneca Hill 2005. Pesky wabbit ate 'em that fall. They have rebound this past season, and we'll see what happens. It will be a pleasant surprise if they make it for any length of time.

I spent two years of my life in obsessive pursuit of S. americanus "Kankakee Form." It has absolutely lovely flowers, but I remain uncertain as to truly how garden worthy this shrub should be ranked. The form on mine, so far, is like a very small tree, but it's in a tough site and the cicadas did a number on it a few years ago. Other plants I have seen are very shrubby and not terribly shapely.

It will probably be available from Seneca Hill Perennials this year. It has been the past three years now.

Scott

Here is the form as seen at Dawe's Arboretum. I am 90% certain this is the "Kankakee Form."

Scott

The leaves of S. obassia.

Scott

And the flowers.

Scott

Scott,
I bought S. americanus "Kankakee Form." sapling this past spring and now after seeing the 3' high chicken wire fencing around the S. americanus at Dawe's Arboretum I am wondering what was the fencing trying keep away from the tree? Too short for deer, the weave was to wide for smaller animals, I am puzzled.
David,
I bought this S. americanus "Kankakee Form." from a NY State zone 5 plant nut that had years of sucess with his. I hope the same for you. kt

I have enough property that I will be looking for S. americanus 'Kanakee Form'. It is an appealing group of plants to me and I will want one even if it isn't a killer plant in 3-4 seasons of the year. This discussion has also reminded me that I need to look for another S. obassiz. It is one of the larger unusual plants that I left at the old place -- there would just not have been any way of moving it from where it was. I think I loved it just as much in winter as at other seasons. OK, list: S. obassia, S. japonicus 'Emerald Meadow',
S. americanus 'Kanakee' ,,,,,,,,,,,,.....................................................................................................................................................................................................etc

Scott:

Do you still have the seedlings from 'Emerald Meadow' seed I sent you? You have this ready market right here in this thread!

Hey, How come this thread is wider than all the others and I have to scroll from side to side. Is Sofa fooling around with those wide pills he got from Vet Supply? Ken

Kevin,

I think I have only a few left. I got really good germination and had quite a few seedlings, but few of them had any vigor at all. I am at a loss to figure it out, because other plants in the same media mix and the same fertilizer and moisture regimen did fine. The few plants that hung on got separated from each other in various clean-ups of my nursery area, so that now I'm unsure if I have any at all, because I've also grown many Styrax from seed from other sources. Perhaps this spring, as plants leaf out, I'll be able to determine "Emerald Meadow"-like seedlings and put them aside. I'm more than a little bummed by this situation.

Scott