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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Styrax grandifolius (Bigleaf snowbell)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Styrax grandifolius

Styrax grandifolius Aiton

Bigleaf Snowbell, Bigleaf Storax, Coast Snowbell

Styracaceae (Storax Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: stgr4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Shrub or sometimes a small tree with rounded crown, large, nearly round leaves, and showy, bell-shaped, white flowers.

The genus name, from the Greek, is that of the European relative, Storax (Styrax officinalis L.). That species yields the resin known as storax, used as incense.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall.
Fruit: Nut-like.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MS , NC , OH , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: Virginia to N. Florida, and west to E. Texas; local to S. Ohio; to 1000' (305 m).
Native Habitat: Moist or wet soils of valleys and uplands; in understory of hardwood forests.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FAC UPL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Styrax grandifolius in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Styrax grandifolius in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Styrax grandifolius

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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