(Stewartia)

This genus of approximately 15 shrubs and small trees from woodlands of East Asia and eastern North America contains several of the most prized woody ornamentals for temperate gardens. These are grown for their camellia-like flowers, colorful fall foliage, and handsome bark.

These hardy, deciduous (or rarely evergreen) shrubs or multi-stemmed trees bear toothed, oval, short-stalked leaves on zigzag branchlets. The foliage of some stewartias turns yellow, red, or purple in fall. Cup-shaped, creamy-white...

(Silky Camellia)

Silky camellia is a large, upright, deciduous shrub native across the southeastern United States. It produces showy white camellia-like flowers with magical metallic or blue undertones and blue and purple anthers. Each bloom has five overlapping petals that are lightly ruffled and may be streaked with green or purple. Handsome oval leaves emerge in spring and turn purple, orange or red in autumn. Attractive, flaky, brown bark provides some winter interest.

Be aware that silky camellia is not...

(Tall Stewartia)

Showy fall foliage, colorful bark, and ivory-white summer flowers are among the ornamental merits of this small to medium-sized deciduous tree from woodlands of Japan and Korea.

This hardy tree has medium- to dark-green, toothed, oval to lance-shaped leaves that turn purple and burgundy in fall. Small, creamy-white, cup-shaped flowers with numerous orange-yellow stamens open from plump buds in late spring and early summer. Ovoid, five-chambered seed capsules follow the flowers. Tall stewartia...

(Mountain Stewartia)

The handsome white flowers of mountain stewartia is a sight to behold. In late spring into the early summer, the blossoms open to reveal five to six petals that are white and slightly cupping. In the center of the flower is a tight cluster of rosy-pink or yellow stamens, sometimes even blue-purple. This large deciduous shrub of the extreme southeastern United States has dark green leaves that turn red and orange in the autumn.

Plant mountain stewartia in a location where rhododendrons are prospering....

(Japanese Stewartia)

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...

(Chinese Stewartia)

Providing stately multi-seasonal interest, the Chinese stewartia has smooth mottled bark, fragrant white summertime blooms and reddened autumnal foliage. A small to medium-sized deciduous tree, this species is native to the highlands of central China where it grows in forests or mountain thickets and scrubland. It attains a broad, spreading pyramid-like shape at maturity.

With an open, upright canopy of branches on a strong trunk, its bark is a mottled blend of ivory, gray-tan and beige. Youngest...