Common name: Snow Rose, Tree of a Thousand Stars
Botanical name: Serissa foetida 'Flore Pleno' Family: Rubiaceae (coffee family)
Serissa is a diminutive evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub much loved as bonsai
for its tiny flowers which may occur 2-3 times yearly, gnarled trunks, and
naturally miniature leaves. Serissa has many upright wiry stems that branch
freely and form a bushy dome only 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) tall and wide. The
foliage has a very fine texture with densely crowded opposite leaves to 3/4 in
(1.9 cm) long. Bruised leaves have an unpleasant fetid or rotting smell.
Serissa bears its pretty flowers from early spring until late autumn. They are
about 1/2" in (1.3 cm) across, with a tubular base and 4-6 spreading
petal-like lobes. 'Flore Pleno' has double flowers and only gets 1.5 ft tall.
Serissa is native to open woodlands and wet meadows in southeastern Asia. It
is a popular bonsai subject in Japan, where many named cultivars have been
selected. Softwood cuttings can be rooted in spring; ripewood cuttings in
summer. Serissa cuttings can even be rooted in a glass of water. The genus
Serissa contains just this one species. Serissa's tidy habit and long blooming
period make it an attractive hedge and edging plant.
Identification credit: Shaista Ahmad and Thingnam Sophia
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ntroduced