Borne by the thousand, the white, five-petaled, cup-shaped blossoms are ever so slightly perfumed. Attractive pearl-sized whitish green fruits follow the flowers. The lustrous dark green leaves have paler undersides and a pointed, sometimes curled tip. The foliage turns bronzy-yellow in late fall, if not first nipped by heavy frost.

Plant Japanese snowbell in full sun or partial shade in a moist, acidic, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Not fond of excessive summer heat or drought, it prefers some shade in hot climates. It makes a lovely specimen tree in the lawn or mixed border, and is particularly stunning planted as a clustered grove, allowing you to walk under the flowering branches.

 Place the seeds in a shallow bowl and pour warm water over it. Allow the seed to soak 24 hours. Moisten a handful of peat moss and wring it out until no excess water can be removed. Insert the seed into the peat and place the bundle in a plastic sandwich bag. Set the bag in an area where the temperature remains between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and allow it to remain for 90 days. Check the peat moss periodically and if it begins drying, dribble water over it slowly until it is slightly moist. Place the bagged seed in the refrigerator for 120 days. Keep the peat moss slightly moist during this period. Fill a large planting pot with a quality seed starting potting mix. Place the seed on the surface of the soil and cover it with a 1/4-inch layer of sand. Keep the seed moist at all times. Germination generally takes between 30 and 90 days.