Japanese snowbell, Styrax japonicum Siebold & Zucc. (Styracaceae Dumort.) of China and Japan (Griffiths 1994), is a wide-spreading, dense shrub or tree with small, graceful, waxy white, pendulous flowers. It is one of the best ornamental plants for zone 5 and warmer. Cultivation is not difficu it is a very stress tolerant plant, and it performs well in different sites (Raulston and Tripp, 1995), This small tree is reported as good for any situation (Dirr, 1998), acid soils (Lancaster, 1995), and is most effective on terrace plantings when viewed from below (Huxley, 1992). Flowers occur in mid-May to early June, and grayish fruits from August to early November. Din. (1998) reported Japanese snowbell as "somewhat attractive" in fruit, but primarily as "a most beautiful and delicate flowering tree, yet is not well-known outside of arboreta and botanical gardens." Known cultivars of Japanese snowbell are few in number, selected typically for growth form (weeping, dwarf, or fast-growing) and floral color (pink or white). 'Emerald Pagoda' has large, slightly fragrant, snow-white flowers borne in early May (Fig. 1). Its leaves and fruits are larger compared to the species, and leaves are a darker green hue. Earlier flowering and foliage, flowers, and fruits with the increased ornamental value were the objectives leading to the selection of 'Emerald Pagoda'. Our objective is to document the data on 'Emerald Pagoda' as a release of new germplasm from the JC Raulston Arboretum.
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