Snowbell is any of a group of trees and shrubs named for their white, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are fragrant, have five to eight petals, and grow in clusters. Snowbell leaves often possess slightly serrated (toothed) edges. The egg-shaped or spherical fruits contain one or two large seeds.
Snowbells inhabit warm areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Gardeners often plant them for their lovely appearance. The Japanese snowbell ranks as one of the most widely planted species. It grows about 30 feet (9 meters) tall and has wide-spreading, slender branches. Originally from Japan, this snowbell now appears in gardens around the world. The American snowbell is a shrub that ranges from 3 to 9 feet (0.9 to 2.7 meters) tall. Its native habitat includes much of the southeastern United States.
