Stewartia (Stewartia sp.)
Stewartia is a tree that garners attention in all four seasons of the year. In June or early July, depending on where you live, you will be blown over by the showy white flowers that look much like wild camellias. Throughout the summer season the glossy dark green leaves keep the tree as an eye-catcher. Then in the fall those leaves turn yellow to reddish-purple lasting for three or four weeks, competing nicely with those popular Maples. Finally in the winter, when everything else may be a bit gloomy, the bark of the Stewartia jumps out as a gangbusters feature in the landcape. It has exfoliating, reddish brown bark that looks spectacular when backed up by newly fallen white snow.
They are all small to medium trees that in some places are grown as multi-stemmed shrubs. As a plant they are closely related to camellias. Both groups are from the tea family of plants.
| Choices of Stewartia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Size | Basic Requirements |
| Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) | At 20 years height is 15’ and the spread is 12’. Mature height is 30 to 40’ with a spread of 20 to 25’. Growth rate is slow at 8 to 12 inches per year | Zones (5) 6 through 8, best in full sun or part shade in moist, rich, acidic, well-drained soils . |
| Korean Stewartia (Stewartia koreana) | Mature height is 30’ with a spread of 25’. Growth rate is medium at 12 to 18 inches per year. | Zones 5 through 7 (8), |
| Tall Stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha) | Mature height 20 to 25’ | Zones 6 through 8, full sun to partial shade, |
| Growth rate is slow | ||
