Styra officinalis

Styrax officinalis

Native to:
Albania, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Styracaceae
Genus:
Styrax
Species:
Styrax officinalis
USDA Symbol:
STOF4

Growth Characteristics

Height:
500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire, typical of Mediterranean-climate chaparral species.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained calcareous soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to Mediterranean regions, prefers limestone

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–180 days
Germination Time:
30–365 days
Notes:
Double dormancy with warm period followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take over a year.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI