Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Styracaceae

Genus:

Styrax

Species:

Styrax americanus

USDA Symbol:

STAM4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, well-drained sandy loam

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers wetland or riparian habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–210 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Requires warm stratification (60-90 days) followed by cold stratification (90-120 days). Germination can be erratic and may take two seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI