Stewartia ( sometimes spell Stewartia- synonym of Dobeya ) are part of the genus of eight to 20 specie of flowering plants in the Theaceae category .

Stewartia malacodendron and Stweartia ovata are native to Southeastern North America , rate from Virginia and Kentucky south to Florida and Louisiana .

There have also been many Stewratia pseudocamellia ( Japanese Stewartia ) plant in the United States .

stewartia tree

Stewartia is a flowering Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and shrub , mostly deciduous ( referring to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed their leaves ) .

It can attain a height of 3 - 20 meters tall in the Asiatic salmagundi and 3 - 5 meters in the American metal money .

They are a good front chiliad addition because they are multi - season interests .

Beautiful Stewartia Flower Up-close

The Nipponese Stweartia tree , S. pseudocamellia , is native to Japan and Korea .

” Stewartia ” part of the Genus refer in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus to honor John Stuart , 3rd Earl of Bute , an 18th - 100 Scottish Lord and passionate botanist who imported Stewartia malacodendron ( Virginia stewartia ) into his garden in London .

Despite try over century to correct the myocardial infarction - spelling of the name Stuart , Stewart has remained .

Growing Stewartia

One species , Stewartia pteropetolata is evergreen ; however , there are some botanists who classify them under the genus , Hartia , while others categorize them in Stewartia .

Stewartia Tree Appearance and Characteristics

This is a beautiful tree with big 2 - 2 ½ inch white flower with orange centers . The peak generally has five petals but sometimes can have up to six to eight .

They are form like a Camellia .

Each bloom is short - lived , but many are produce that open over many weeks .

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Stewartia bloom in July to mid to late summertime .

It has green leaves and unique peeling bark .

The bark is smooth coarse-textured and exfoliates as the plant life ages .

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It has a shed , camouflaged appearance from yellowish to an orangish and mixed Lady Jane Grey blueprint .

The seed pods are cylindrical with an oval woody shape .

Each cylinder has five chambers , and each bedroom consist of five seeds .

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gardener can take in the seeded player from the juiceless seed condensation before they collapse in the fall .

When the leave alter color from deep green to yellow and red in the spill , it provide a beautiful presentation of vividness .

Stewartia Tree Growing Conditions

These trees like acidic soil ; they like things moist and do not do well in Methedrine , Ca - deep soil , or a dry sandy environment . They need rain and do not digest drouth .

These tree grow slowly until they are establish , give 20 to 25 groundwork grandiloquent and have a multi - trunked form with moderately horizontal branches .

When planting , it is advisable to position your tree in full sunshine or fond shade ; they do not care direct , firm afternoon sunshine .

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This genus does substantially in pretty cooler climates .

Stewartia tree can grow at a pace of 24 inches per year .

Water

water supply on a regular basis to keep plastered or evenly moist soil weekly or more .

There is miscellaneous information about drought intolerance , so keep an middle out for signs of heat damage .

Most local cultivator suggest proceed them moist but not muddy .

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Growing Difficulty

The Stewartia tree does not always do well with other tree diagram and shrubs .

News on the street is that they are slightly challenging to establish ; however , once they get established , they are relatively leisurely as long as they get enough water and are in well - drained soil .

You may want to protrude with well - grow nursery strain , put it in a post that does not have too much sun in the afternoon , and H2O carefully the first few year .

Bachelor Buttons- a gorgeous edible garden flower

Pruning and Propagation

Stewartias are by nature straight and tidy in shape and do not need much pruning .

They are amiable to pruning and shaping if the gardener or landscaper so desire .

Smaller change can be sheared into a formal hedge if Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are planted closer together .

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Top Tip : It is advisable to cut crossing or misdirected branches in the early years of development and polish off scummy limb as the tree gains height .

Stewartia henryae is an open - pollinated cross hybrid between Stewartia pseudocamellia and Stewartia monadelpha .

This plant declare oneself a unique blend between the two parent species .

Hibiscus tree

Most display bloodless flowers like the S. monadelpha and barque like the S. pseudocamellia .

Stewartia Tree Growing Guide

If you are take up from seed , many people stratify them first .

Stratification is a horticulture process that stimulates the natural weather the seeds must go through before sprouting can occur .

It is an embryonal dormancy period , and most seeds will not sprout until that dormancy phase is break .

valerian flower

Stewartia seed need a stratification appendage .

The seeds need to be keep at lovesome temperatures of 15 - 20 degree nose candy ( 59 - 68 level F ) for 120 days and then in insensate stratification for 90 days .

Most citizenry refrigerate their seeds for 90 twenty-four hour period .

Melampodium

Some nurseryman prefer to stratify warm followed by frigid stratification periods by planting the germ in the summertime in a mulched bed for expect germination the following spring .

This really depends on how stale the winter are in your areas .

social stratification : Warm stratify for 120 days .

lilac tree

inhuman satisfy for 90 days .

After social stratification , a operation known as scarification admit place by soaking your source in water at elbow room temperature for 24 hour before set .

To spud , sow in the seeds ⅛ ” deep , urge on down the territory , rase it , and add mulch to keep the seedbed moist .

You May Also Like : The Complete Bayberry Bush Growing Guide

Potting and Repotting

you’re able to transfer a lowly tree from a glasshouse in early spring or from a container to a bigger container as needed ; however , they do not like transplantation .

The tree maturate best in evenly moist , middling acidic grease with good drainage when planted in the ground .

It does not do well in heavy cadaver , dry or rocky dirt , or soils that do not drain well .

remark : It will have difficulty take in necessary nutrients in neutral or alkaline ground .

It does not readily establish itself with other common garden tree and shrubs .

Fertilize

Fertilize trees Just once a year in other Spring , with balanced granular plant food at a 10 - 10 - 10 ratio .

Companion Plants for Stewartia Trees

Suggested fellow traveller plants for Stewartia include Hakonechloa macra , commonly fuck as Japanese forest Mary Jane , a golden shade - loving perennial , Sunburst Hypericum , and Japanese Spurge .

you’re able to also couple them with blue - maintenance shrubs like shrub roses , spirea , and ninebark .

Advantages of Stewartia Trees

Landscapers like this ornamental tree because , unlike most flowering trees , it blooms in mid to late summertime until the first nippy daylight of Fall .

They have large white flower anywhere from three to 11 cm in diameter with five petal .

now and then they may present with six to eight petal .

Their bark is unique in that it has a smooth orange to sensationalistic color that peels in ok flake .

The foliage turn a beautiful orange during the fall .

The Japanese Stewartia especially is a noninvasive species and does not drop leave and yield .

The seed fuel pod forms a cylindric cone with a woody oval - shaped condensation .

The form is unique and ornamental in dry floral arrangements .

Stewartia Trees Diseases and Pest Problems

Like most Tree , damage or trauma to the bark of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can lead to problem .

This tree is comparatively hardy without cognise pests or disease ; however , every tree is susceptible to disease .

It bear to take some precautions to keep the tree diagram healthy .

Plant the tree in the spring rather than the gloam to keep off it toppling over in wintertime storms .

Young Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can benefit from some support in their growing years to stabilize them until their root system propagates and their body becomes sturdy to hold the mood and breaking wind .

If the leaves are exposed to too much afternoon sun , they can get sunburned , known as “ leaf sunburn ” .

Heat stress can weaken the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

It will then become more susceptible to pests or disease .

deflect this by place your tree in a partially shaded area or in an area that does not get direct sunshine for hours on end during the day .

When the bark gets damage , it is like our skin getting cut .

This lead to open up exposure to pay for germs or pests .

Stewartia has a fragile barque that can well be damaged .

It is important to be careful not to curve the tree diagram bark when rationalize or mow around it .

Once the bole is established , you might think of placing ornamental rocks or gravel around it , or maybe a low fencing around the trunk so that it wo n’t be harm when mowing or dope wham too nigh to the tree ’s trunk .

If leaves become brown , it may imply that you are overwatering your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

The Stewartia tree demand moisture but does not overwater the tree as it can develop rootage rot .

Stewartia Tree Seeds

you’re able to order Stewartia pseudocamellia ( Nipponese Stweartia)3 - class - older treesfrom Nipponese Maples and Evergreens on Amazon.com if you live in the US .

FAQs

Should I start with seeds?

It is good when begin with a strong nursery stock tree than from seeds .

What makes this tree special?

This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is multi - seasonal and especially beautiful in the fall .

It has a unique lean barque that is multicolored , ranging from orangish , yellowed , and grey .

When does Stewartia bloom?

Flowers bloom mid to recent summertime when most other tree diagram are not putting forth flowers .