Deciduous Tree
Stewartia monadelpha is a lovely small- to medium-sized tree for a woodland garden setting. Its multi-season talents include summertime camellia-like blooms in white, fabulous red fall color, and sinuously smooth bark that looks great year-round. Compared to Stewartia pseudocamellia, its flowers are smaller and understated. Both have the fantastically ornamental bark, though they differ in coloring. The tall stewartia (S. monadelpha) has smooth bark in orangey, cinnamon-brown. The bark of Japanese Stewartia (S. pseudocamellia) is cream-to-gray and has a mottled pattern that resembles camouflage.
Stewartia monadelpha is relatively slow-growing and its form can be a bit gangly in youth. But the wait is definitely worth it. A well-grown, mature specimen will take your breath away (be sure to check out the gallery of photos on this page). Though deserving of space in more gardens, it can be inconsistently available and bit hard to find. And when you find one for sale in a garden center, they're often on the small side. So it can take some patience to get it up to size.
Zone:
6, 7, 8
Exposure:
Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
Water Needs:
Regular / Even
Size: 120 - 180 tall x 120 - 180 wide
Shape / Form:
Upright
Foliage Texture:
Medium
Foliage Quality:
Medium
Features: Attractive Bark or Stem, Fall Color, Low Maintenance, Winter Interest, Year-round Interest
Foliage Color:
Green
Fall Color:
Red Orange
Flower Color:
White
Bloom Season:
Summer
Flower Shape:
Single
Landscape Uses:
Mixed Border, Structure / Foundation
Special Situations:
Courtyard / Urban Garden
Season of Interest:
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Pleasing Seasonal Changes, Year-round Interest, Three Seasons of Interest
Position / Role:
canopy
Plant Behavior:
Slow Growing
Collections:
eGardenGo Favorite, Great Plant Pick
Maintenance Level:
medium
Focus:
Year-round Interest,
Curb Appeal,
Hellstrip / Parking Strip,
Mixed Border,
Saving Water,
Pleasing Seasonal Flow,
Small Space
Exposure:
Open Shade,
Filtered Sun,
Morning Sun,
Part Shade,
Part Sun
Zone:
6,
7,
8
Focus:
Year-round Interest,
Curb Appeal,
Mixed Border,
Pleasing Seasonal Flow,
Small Space
Exposure:
Open Shade,
Filtered Sun,
Morning Sun,
Part Shade,
Part Sun,
Full Shade
Zone:
6,
7,
8
Focus:
Year-round Interest,
Curb Appeal,
Mixed Border,
Pleasing Seasonal Flow
Exposure:
Open Shade,
Filtered Sun,
Morning Sun,
Part Shade
Zone:
7,
8