Serissa japonica aka Snowrose

Serissa japonica is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family, native to southeast Asia, from India to Japan. It is commonly known as snowrose, tree of a thousand stars, or Japanese boxthorn, and was previously known as Serissa foetida. The name foetida refers to the unpleasant smell emitted by the leaves when bruised or pruned. Snowrose and tree of a thousand stars are different cultivars, distinguished by the shape and size of their flowers. The shrub is evergreen or semi-evergreen, growing up to 60cm high with oval, deep green leaves that form a wide bushy dome. It is valued for its neat habit, good coverage of branches, and long flowering time. The rough, grey trunk tends to lighten in color with age. Serissa produces funnel-shaped, 4- to 6-lobed flowers that are pink in bud and turn white when they bloom. It flowers practically all year round, but particularly from early spring to near autumn. Fertilizing is especially important during the long flowering period. Snowrose, a cultivar of Serissa japonica, is a deciduous shrub that grows 2-4 feet tall and slightly wider with stiff branches covered in small glossy leaves and many white flowers. It requires consistent moisture in fertile, well-drained soils in partial sun to partial shade.