WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Styrax japonicus, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Japanese snowbell in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Japanese snowbell in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. Japanese snowbell is a compact deciduous flowering tree from Japan, China and nearby Asia, vase shaped when young and broadly rounded with age. In late spring, fragrant white bells hang beneath the branches. It needs moist, acidic, well-drained soil, does not tolerate heat or drought well, and must never be allowed to dry out.

TreeRated for 3 of 6 zones

How often to water Japanese snowbell, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Japanese snowbell and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil drying out at the surface under Japanese snowbell in summer means it needs water now
  • Leaves scorching brown at the edges in heat point to drought stress
  • Leaves dropping early in late summer can follow dry soil
  • Seedlings appearing nearby come from its seed, not from overwatering

How to water it

  • Keep the soil consistently moist, never letting it dry out
  • Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, acidic, well-drained soil
  • Mulch the root zone to hold moisture and keep roots cool
  • Give it afternoon shade where summers are hot
  • Prune in winter to shape it

Through the seasons

Water a young tree steadily through its first summers. Established trees still need consistent moisture and a mulched root zone, since they handle heat and drought poorly. Flowers hang beneath the branches in late spring, and fruit ripens in late summer. WUCOLS rates Japanese snowbell moderate water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley and in the high desert. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the south coast, South Inland or the low desert.

In pots

Japanese snowbell can grow in a large container while young, letting you see its hanging spring flowers up close. Use an acidic, moisture-holding mix that drains. Water whenever the upper inch begins to dry, until it seeps out. In summer, check daily, since it must never dry out. Keep the pot out of hot afternoon sun. In winter, while bare, water when the mix dries.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Japanese Snowbell: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.4––0.74–
Feb0.530.65––0.93–
Mar0.871.09––1.46–
Apr1.181.52––1.89–
May1.462.08––2.39–
Jun1.612.48––2.85–
Jul1.612.67––3.04–
Aug1.492.39––2.79–
Sep1.241.8––2.14–
Oct0.871.18––1.46–
Nov0.470.56––0.93–
Dec0.310.34––0.65–
Year1217.11––21.27–

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like Japanese snowbell. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAmur MapleAcer ginnalamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernleaf MapleAcer japonicummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBox ElderAcer negundomoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyNorway MapleAcer platanoidesmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed MapleAcer rubrummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyChinese MapleAcer truncatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed HorsechestnutAesculus x carneamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Japanese snowbell in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTexas Red OakQuercus buckleyilow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPortuguese OakQuercus faginealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySoapbark TreeQuillaja saponarialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyNecklace TreeSophora affinislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBailey AcaciaAcacia baileyanalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver WattleAcacia dealbatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGreen WattleAcacia decurrenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Japanese snowbell, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How much water does Japanese snowbell need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Japanese snowbell needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Japanese snowbell change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Japanese snowbell separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

When does Japanese snowbell bloom?

It blooms in late spring with fragrant white bells hanging beneath the branches. Fruit ripens in late summer. Water steadily through bloom.

Can Japanese snowbell handle drought?

No, it does not tolerate heat or drought well. Consistent moisture is essential. Mulch and water regularly.

Does Japanese snowbell reseed?

Seedlings may volunteer. Pull them where they are not wanted. Keep it away from wild areas.

What soil does Japanese snowbell need?

It prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil. It is moderately salt tolerant. Add organic matter at planting.

Does Japanese snowbell have nice bark?

Yes, its bark has orange-brown interlacing fissures that add winter interest. It casts light shade. It suits small gardens.

More plant watering guides

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Sources