How to Grow Serissa japonica and Things to Note: In Midsummer It Blooms Like Snow

Serissa japonica (snowbush, June snow) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen small shrub in the family Rubiaceae, also known as white horse bone, baby's breath, and broken-leaf wintergreen, and is mainly distributed across the Yangtze River basin and areas to the south in China. The plant is not tall, with fine dense branches and small leathery leaves, and its graceful form makes it a very common subject in courtyard landscaping and bonsai cultivation.

Its name comes precisely from its flowering season. Every year in early June it enters full bloom, when tiny white flowers cover the branches so densely that from a distance it looks as if a thin layer of snow has settled on the twigs, giving an exceptionally striking ornamental effect. Besides the common single-petaled white flowers, horticulture also offers golden-edged, silver-edged and double-petaled varieties, and the types with variegated leaf margins are especially favored by bonsai enthusiasts.

When caring for Serissa japonica, place it in a spot with ample light, and provide some shade during the high summer heat. It likes moisture but fears waterlogging, so during the growing season simply keep the potting soil slightly moist; in the rainy season pay attention to drainage, since prolonged waterlogging easily causes root rot. A loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best. During the growing season apply light fertilizer frequently, and prune appropriately after flowering, which both controls the plant's shape and encourages new growth.

Propagation is mainly by cuttings; in spring and autumn select healthy branches and insert them into a sand bed, where the rooting and survival rate is fairly high. In winter, when temperatures are low, reduce watering and take cold-protection measures to prevent the leaves from being damaged by cold and dropping. Serissa japonica has dense foliage and tolerates pruning well. Planted in the ground it can serve as a hedge to accent a courtyard, while as a potted plant, after wiring and pruning into a small bonsai, it looks equally elegant placed on a balcony or desk.