Stewartia monadelpha

Tall stewartia comes from Korea and South Japan. It is possibly the tallest of the species, yet quite slender and conical growing, most often multi-stemmed tree. Its trunks are possibly the key feature why collectors and plant lovers seek after this plant. The bark is smooth, picturesquely painted amber golden and dark honey red. You feel like touching it every time you pass by.

In early summer profusion of small, 4 cm across, 5-petalled, pure white flowers are borne, and are followed by hard-shelled seedpods. Deciduous leaves are rather narrow, ovate to elliptic, dark green and glossy in summer, and fantastic shades of red in autumn. Foliage looks very lush, be it in summer or autumn, and makes the tree pretty even when it has no flowers.

It grows fast when young and as it reaches some 3 to 4 m it slows down and gives more strength to thickening the trunks and branches. It needs light, peaty soil with plenty of humus, always moist, never wet or compacted. Since it is difficult to transplant find it the best spot in your garden where it will linger forever and ever. If you have a small plant and have not decided where to grow it yet transplant it to a larger container only every year until you find the perfect location. It is fully hardy to at least -24°C (USDA zone 6) but plants with mature wood withstand short spells of stronger frost as evidenced in old specimens cultivated in zones 5b around the USA.

Last update 08-03-2018