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Native Plant Database

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Styrax platanifolius (Sycamoreleaf snowbell)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Styrax platanifolius Engelm. ex Torr.

Sycamoreleaf snowbell, Sycamore-Leaf snowbell

Styracaceae (Snowball Family)

USDA Symbol: stpl3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A shrub or small tree with dark gray bark. Should not be disturbed. Rare and endangered. Leaves broadly ovate to almost circular, up to 4 inches long, with smooth margins and a broad tip, or with a terminal lobe and a lateral one on each side of it, and a lobed to rounded base. Flowers in small clusters, drooping, with 5 white petals up to 5/8 inch long, suggesting little bells, opening in April and May. Fruit a rounded capsule about 3/8 inch in diameter, with a short tip, the base covered with a remnant (calyx) of the flower.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Stellate
Leaf Margin: Undulate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Inflorescence: Axillary
Size Notes: 6-12
Leaf: Green.
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Endemic in Texas.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rich soils along Edwards Plateau streams on limestone rock.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Hill Country Natives - Leander, TX

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-WCW-1 Collected 2009-10-01 in Kendell County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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