Stewartia pseudocamellia, commonly known as the Japanese stewartia or deciduous camellia, is a small to medium-sized flowering tree native to Japan and Korea. Here's a detailed description:
Appearance:
Japanese stewartia typically grows to a height of 6 to 12 meters (20 to 40 feet) and has a rounded or oval-shaped crown.
The tree has smooth, gray bark that exfoliates in thin, papery layers, revealing patches of reddish-brown underneath, providing year-round visual interest.
The branches are slender and often slightly pendulous, giving the tree an elegant appearance.
The foliage consists of simple, alternate leaves that are elliptical to lanceolate in shape, with serrated margins. The leaves are dark green and turn shades of yellow, orange, or red in the fall, providing stunning autumn color.
Flowers:
Japanese stewartia produces large, showy flowers in early to mid-summer, typically from June to July.
The flowers are solitary or in small clusters at the branch tips and are reminiscent of camellias, with five white petals surrounding a prominent cluster of yellow stamens.
The flowers are fragrant and attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Each flower lasts for several days before fading, and the tree may produce sporadic blooms throughout the summer.
Fruit:
After flowering, Japanese stewartia develops small, woody capsules that resemble miniature chestnuts.
The capsules contain numerous small seeds and persist on the tree through the winter, adding further ornamental interest.
Habitat and Cultivation:
Japanese stewartia prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun.
It is relatively adaptable and can tolerate a range of soil types, including acidic and alkaline soils.
The tree is well-suited to gardens and landscapes as a specimen tree, focal point, or as part of a mixed border.
It is relatively slow-growing but long-lived, with some specimens living for over 100 years.
Landscape Uses:
Japanese stewartia is prized for its ornamental value, with its attractive bark, showy flowers, and vibrant fall foliage making it a popular choice for gardens and landscapes.
It can be used as a specimen tree in smaller gardens, as well as in larger landscapes, parks, and botanical gardens. The tree's small size and elegant form also make it suitable for planting in containers or as part of a bonsai collection. Hardy in zones 6-8.