Tree Categories: Fast Growing Trees, Ornamental Trees, and Shade Trees
Mature Tree Height: 20-40 feet tall | Mature Tree Width: 10-20 feet wide
Tree Growing Zones: Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, and Zone 8
The Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) is a small- to medium-sized flowering ornamental tree. It has a graceful pyramidal form and unique branching habit. In early summer, white flowers with orange-yellow centers start to bloom and create a beautiful display to signal the start of summer. In the fall, the dark green, pointed oval leaves transform to shades of red, orange, and burgundy. Once the leaves fall, the beautiful trunk of flaky smooth gray outer bark and patches of orange to reddish brown inner bark can be seen more clearly and are a unique and captivating sight in the winter landscape.
The Japanese Stewartia is native to Japan. Its year-round ornamental interest makes it suitable for multiple landscapes. It makes a great street tree, small enough to be planted under power lines and a reliable summer bloom lightens up the city landscape. A street lined with these trees on either side makes for a spectacular sight. It also can be a specimen tree in the yard, be planted near a patio, or form a showy shrub border in group plantings. It can grow in both partial and full sun and prefers moist, acidic soils but has proven to do pretty well in thicker clay soils too.
