If you love camellias and want a summer bloomer, Japanese stewartia might be just what you're looking for. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to learn about this beautiful blooming tree nicknamed the false camellia.
Imagine a beautiful white camellia that blooms in the summer. That is Japanese stewartia, a close relative of this favorite blooming evergreen, with a twist. Trees that offer interest during all four seasons are rare, and when we happen upon one, you’d better believe we want to know everything about it.
Here is all you need to know about growing the stunning Japanese stewartia!
What Is Japanese Stewartia?
Japanese stewartia is a wonderful, large shrub or small tree that can grow into a quite imposing figure. It is similar to a camellia, and the flowers are nearly identical to some single-flowered varieties. It creates a striking figure in the landscape, with plenty to look at during all four seasons, quite a rarity.
Characteristics
Japanese stewartia is a deciduous tree that ranges from 12 to 40 feet tall, with a slightly smaller spread. It’s multi-stemmed and shrubby in habit, growing in a pyramidal to oval shape. The branches start low to the ground, and the ovate leaves have serrated margins, are medium green, and heavily textured.
These plants leaf out in early spring before blooming between June and August. The flowers strongly resemble a single-petaled camellia bloom, with five creamy white petals and a crown of golden stamens in the center. They are small to medium-sized, at two to three inches in diameter.
This tree diverges from its relatives in fall, when, rather than retaining evergreen foliage, the leaves change to vivid shades of red and orange. They add brilliance to the fall landscape before going dormant for the winter.
In winter, with the foliage absent, the beautiful peeling bark reveals itself, adding interest to the cold, dreary months. The bark resembles that of a crape myrtle, with older grey strips peeling away to reveal shades of white and cinnamon underneath.
Native Area
This slow-growing tree is native to mountainous regions in Korea, mainly to the south, as well as areas of Japan. In the wild, they can reach heights of up to 60 feet, but in cultivation, they are typically shorter.
Planting
Spring and late summer to early fall are the best times to plant this tree, allowing it plenty of time to establish roots before winter. It thrives with some protection from heavy winds, and in hotter climates will need more shelter from the sun than in cooler areas.
