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Stewartia pseudocamellia

Image of Stewartia pseudocamellia

Gerald L. Klingaman

Family

Theaceae

Botanical Name

Stewartia pseudocamellia

Plant Common Name

Japanese Stewartia

General Description

With its lovely summer flowers, bright fall color, and strikingly patterned bark, this small to medium-sized deciduous tree brings year-round beauty to the garden. Native to Japan, it entered Western gardens before 1878.

This typically low-branched or multi-trunked tree bears rich green leaves with pale undersides along gray, ascending branches. The serrated oval leaves turn orange, yellow, and reddish hues before dropping in fall. In midsummer, plants bear single, white, five-petalled blossoms in their leaf axils. The upfacing, camellia-like flowers have a central starburst of orange-yellow stamens. Persistent, five-angled seed capsules follow the flowers. The flaking bark - dappled in various shades of ivory, olive-green, gray, beige, and brown - is a highlight of the winter and early spring landscape.

This slow-growing tree does best in moist, well-drained, acidic soil in full sun or light shade. It loathes extreme heat and drought. Use this unsurpassed specimen tree as a focal point in the garden, or group several for a rare and stunning landscape tableau.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    8 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21

  • Plant Type

    Tree

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    15'-70' / 4.6m - 21.3m

  • Width

    20'-25' / 6.1m - 7.6m

  • Bloom Time

    Early Summer, Summer

  • Native To

    Japan

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam

  • Growth Rate

    Slow

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Oval/Rounded

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Light Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Yellow, Red, Orange

  • Bark Color

    Olive, Tan, Brown, Ivory, Gray

  • Bark Color Modifier

    Multi-Color, Spotted/Mottled

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    Yes

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Exfoliating

  • Usage

    Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No