Scientific Name:
Stewartia sinensis
Pronunciation:
stoo-AR-tee-uh sye-NEN-siss
Common Name:
Chinese stewartia
Family Name:
Theaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves (ovate-) elliptical (-oblong), 5-10cm long, downy becoming glossy; flowers cup-shaped, 4-5cm wide, petals white, anthers yellow; capsules large black by summer. Winter ID: bark smooth, and exfoliating, whitish-tan to cinnamon colour.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Pyramidal - widely
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
7 - 10m
Mature Spread:
4 - 5m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China (Hubei, China)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Fall interest, Specimen plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Lustrous, Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Orange, Red
Shapes:
Elliptic, Obovate, Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate, Acute
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Ciliate, Entire, Undulate (wavy)
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown, Black
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Nov
Additional Info:
Not showy, The capsule has 5 angles, 5 beaks, and is 3/4' wide, making it the largest in its genus.
Bark Morphology:
Exfoliating, Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
White, Orange, Tan, Brown
Additional Info:
Cinnamon-like appearance, and peels off in long sheets; relatively similar to Acer griseum.
Leaf Bud Type:
Stalked
Leaf Scar Shape:
V-shaped
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
