Plant & Tree Library

Description:

A dainty, weeping small tree, featuring lovely pink bell-shaped flowers hanging from gracefully weeping branches in early spring, very attractive; needs moist, organic soil and some shelter, does well in part shade

Ornamental Features

Marley's Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell features dainty lightly-scented nodding pink bell-shaped flowers hanging below the branches from mid to late spring. It has green deciduous foliage. The large glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding orange in the fall. The fruits are showy gray drupes displayed from late summer to late fall. The smooth khaki (brownish-green) bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Marley's Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a rounded form and gracefully weeping branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Invasive

Marley's Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Marley's Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Marley's Pink Parasol Japanese Snowbell makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.