{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{speciesbox |image = Serissa japonica-bunga 4-Hayati Mayang Arum.jpg |image_caption = |genus = Serissa |parent_authority = Comm. ex A.Juss. (1789), nom. cons. prop. |species = japonica |authority = (Thunb.) Thunb. (1798) |synonyms = *''Buchozia'' {{L'Hér. (1788)}} *''Democritea'' {{small|DC. (1830)}} *''Dysoda'' {{small|Lour. (1790)}} *''Buchozia coprosmoides'' {{small|L'Hér. (1788), nom. superfl.}} *''Buchozia japonica'' {{small|(Thunb.) Callm. (2021)}} *''Democritea serissoides'' {{small|DC. (1830)}} *''Dysoda fasciculata'' {{small|Lour. (1790)}} *''Dysoda foetida'' {{small|(L.f.) Salisb. (1796)}} *''Leptodermis nervosa'' {{small|Hutch. (1916)}} *''Leptodermis venosa'' {{small|Craib. (1916)}} *''Lycium foetidum'' {{small|L.f. (1782)}} *''Lycium japonicum'' {{small|Thunb. (1780)}} (basionym) *''Serissa buxifolia'' {{small|Dum.Cours. (1811), nom. superfl.}} *''Serissa crassiramea'' {{small|(Maxim.) Nakai (1922)}} *''Serissa democritea'' {{small|Baill. (1880)}} *''Serissa foetida'' {{small|(L.f.) Poir. (1819)}} *''Serissa japonica'' {{small|(Thunb.) Thunb. (1798)}} *''Serissa kawakamii'' {{small|Hayata (1915)}} *''Serissa myrtifolia'' {{small|Dum.Cours. (1801), nom. superfl.}} *''Serissa serissoides'' {{small|(DC.) Druce (1917)}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo1>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:35337-1 ''Serissa'' Comm. ex A.Juss.] ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 21 October 2023.</ref><ref name = powo2>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:766327-1 ''Serissa japonica'' (Thunb.) Thunb.] ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 9 April 2024.</ref> }}
'''''Serissa japonica''''' is a species of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae.<ref name = powo2/> It is the sole species in genus '''''Serissa'''''.<ref name = powo1/> It is native to open sub-tropical woodlands and wet meadows in southeast Asia, from India, and China to Japan. It is commonly called the '''snowrose''', '''tree of a thousand stars''', or '''Japanese boxthorn'''. Snowrose and tree of a thousand stars are different cultivars. The only method of differentiating is measuring the difference in the shape and size of the flowers produced.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
==Description== thumb|left|Timelapse of a ''Buchozia japonica'' flower opening. ''Serissa japonica'' is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, 45–60 cm high, with oval, deep green, rather thick leaves that have an unpleasant smell if bruised (hence one of its synonyms, ''foetida''). The upright stems branch in all directions and form a wide bushy dome. It is grown for its neat habit, good coverage of branches and long flowering time. It is also valued for its rough, grey trunk which tends to get lighter in colour with age.
It flowers practically all year round, but particularly from early spring to near autumn. The 4- to 6-lobed flowers are funnel-shaped and 1 cm wide. They first appear as pink buds but turn to a profusion of white flowers. Fertilizing is especially important during the long flowering period.{{cn|date=March 2023}}
==Cultivars== Many cultivars with double flowers or variegated leaves are also available. 'Pink Snow Rose' has pale pink flowers and leaves edged off-white. Other cultivars include: 'Variegata', 'Variegated Pink', 'Pink Mystic', 'Snowflake', 'Snowleaves', 'Mt. Fuji', 'Kyoto' and 'Sapporo'.
==Bonsai== thumb|left|Bonsai version of ''Serissa japonica'' ''Serissa japonica'' is one of the most common bonsai sold in America and Europe. It is not difficult to maintain as bonsai, but is very fussy. Many beginner bonsai enthusiasts will destroy a plant in their uninformed attempts to care for it. The trees respond adversely by dropping leaves if over-watered, under-watered, if it's too cold, too hot, or even if just moved to a new location. The plant usually grows back to health when put back to better conditions.<ref name="Ma-Ke_Serissa foetida">{{cite web|url=http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_species_guide_training.asp?SpeciesID=5012&Name=Serissa_foetida|title=Ma-Ke Bonsai Care Guide for Serissa foetida|last=D'Cruz|first=Mark|date=|website=|publisher=Ma-Ke Bonsai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214065951/http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_species_guide_training.asp?SpeciesID=5012&Name=Serissa_foetida|archive-date=2012-12-14|accessdate=2011-05-09|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Ma-Ke_Serissa foetida Var. Mount Fuji">{{cite web|url=http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_species_guide_training.asp?SpeciesID=5093&name=Serissa_foetida_Mount_Fuji|title=Ma-Ke Bonsai Care Guide for Serissa foetida Var. Mount Fuji|last=D'Cruz|first=Mark|date=|website=|publisher=Ma-Ke Bonsai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012194813/http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_species_guide_training.asp?SpeciesID=5093&name=Serissa_foetida_Mount_Fuji|archive-date=2014-10-12|accessdate=2011-05-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030628040930/http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/serissa.html Serissa] *[http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Serissa.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605171503/http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Serissa.html |date=2020-06-05 }} (Accessed 15 Sept 2006)
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q9076322|from2=Q1556733}}
Category:Monotypic Rubiaceae genera Category:Plants used in bonsai Category:Paederieae