Styrax shiraiana ("Kohakunboku")

Japanese name: コハクウンボク （小白雲木）
Scientific name: Styrax shiraiana

[Overview]
A deciduous small tree 3–5 m tall, found in the mountains.
Young branches initially have stellate hairs.
Leaves are simple and alternate, obovate, 5–8 cm long and 4–7 cm wide, with stellate hairs beneath and greenish white to grayish white in color.
The leaves have 5–7 pairs of lateral veins, and large irregular teeth on the upper margin.
The petiole is 0.7–1.5 cm.
Racemes 3–6 cm long at the tips of the current year's branches bear several white flowers facing downward.
The corolla is 5-lobed, with 10 stamens.
The fruit is ovoid, densely covered with stellate hairs and grayish white.
When ripe, the fruit splits irregularly lengthwise and releases one large brown seed.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
A fertile soil in sun to partial shade that is well drained, well aerated and moderately moist is suitable.
Avoid dry places and places exposed to strong afternoon sun.
It is somewhat sensitive to dryness and sea wind.
Rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant as fertilizer in winter, and after flowering give a small amount of slow-release chemical fertilizer or oil cake as thanks fertilizer.
Do not prune hard; only thin out branches and maintain the natural form.
Pests and diseases include teppo-mushi (longhorn beetle larvae), aphids and scale insects.

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