I LIKE PLANTS THAT EARN THEIR KEEP. By that I mean they do more than a week or two of showing off; they look good in more than a single moment, or season. The small-ish to medium trees in the genus Stewartia are a good bet if that’s the kind of multi-season interest you are looking for. Sound good?
The Latin specific epithet, or species name, of the Stewartia I grow is pseudocamellia, which roughly means it disguises itself as a camellia when in bloom (a nod to the look of its lovely and plentiful white June-into-July flowers, and the fact they are very distant relatives in the Tea Family).
But this Stewartia, from Japan, which gets to maybe 25 feet or so in a Northeast garden setting and is happy in part shade or sun, isn’t content to offer up just nice flowers for the privilege of living with you. It gives you peeling, lovely bark all season long (below), and hot fall color, too, as the leaves eventually change. I should warn that it grows slowly, so this is an investment piece, not instant success.
I like my stewartias to be multi-stem and breaking low from the base, instead of single-trunk, but such aesthetic considerations are up to you. A bigger cousin is S. monadelpha, also from Japan; S. koreana (from where it sounds like it’s from) is another showy choice. What I insist is that you at least agree to look at Stewartia next time you’re in a good woody plant nursery and think of this: What other garden-scale tree gives summer flowers (preceded by showy marble-size buds, bottom photo, by the way, in my pseudocamellia); hot fall foliage, plus winter interest in the form of textural bark and lovely structure?
Guess after reading this you already know the answer to today’s quiz, huh?
Welcome, Madeline. Not the one I grow, but I believe there are otherspecies that might do including Stewartia malacodendron and Stewartia monadelpha perhaps (not sure on last one…it’s Zone 8 hardy but I would suspect you’d have to offer it shade). Worth asking whether any nearby botanical garden has had success (or ask your cooperative extension service) for more localized information, as you know how widely conditions vary even with a “zone.” See you soon, I hope.
Do you know of a source for the native stewartia? I can find the Japan variety in many catalogs and nurseries but not the native.
Thanks
Welcome, Karlie. I think there are a couple of native species — different regions — including S. malacodendron, which Niche Gardens sells, and S. ovata (not sure I know where to get that). I am not fully read up on the genus, I must admit…but maybe that was the one you wanted?
I think that Karlie should check with Catskill Native nursery for the tree and we have the stewartia pseudocarmillia ~ nice blog Margaret I hope you don’t mind that I shared it on my face book ~ I thought more reader better for you right?
Welcome, Victoria. Thanks for sharing. I don’t know where Karlie is located (could be anywhere in the world as the readers here are from everywhere), so not sure what her native one would be. I know that ovata is more southern Appalachian area and malacodendron is even more southerly, I think…pseudocamellia being Asian in origin (but the one I grow). And there are more… Hope to see you again soon.
Hello Margaret. I have a Japanese Stewartia that I planted late summer last year. It has done well, until now. The leaves are beginning to turn brown. I’m in zone 7, & last year we had the terrible November Northeaster, with the wet continuing through early March, so no lack of water. I’m not one to use fertilizers. The tree is planted on the NW side of the yard, in a raised bed & gets filtered afternoon sun. What can I do to improve & save my tree? Thank you. Ava
Welcome, Ava. I have this going on with a dogwood here right now (though they are more prone to such maladies). Mysteries. No late frosts or excessive drying winds or anything that would affect the leaves, and no fertilizer, huh? You say raised bed so I am assuming it’s not suffering from some compacted/sodden/non-draining soil situation, and that when it was planted it didn’t suffer extremes of root disturbance. Are the leaves just brown at the tips or browning and falling off (with the twigs getting brittle too)?
Good morning, Margaret. The leaves appear to be just brown at the tips. Your assumption of all the above is correct. When it was planted, I made sure it wasn’t planted too deep. I also mixed into the soil Bio-tone Starter Plus by Espoma which conatins Mycorrhiza & beneficial bacteria, which helps to stimulate growth. As far as additional fertilizer, I haven’t added any to the tree. Mystery is correct. I just hope I don’t lose this tree. Thank you. Ava
Another great souce for Stewartia and many other interesting plants is:
http://www.plantandgnome.com.
I just received my order including Stewartii pseudocamellia, Salix sachalinensis,
Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum and Callicarpa dichotoma. All arrived in wonderful condition and the prices are great.
Margaret – I’m so pleased to have found you on your wonderful blogsite, I enjoyed your many years in the magazine world and I continue to benefit from your passions. Thanks for sharing, Jen
Welcome, Jen. Thank you for the encouragement and kind words. Glad you got some real goodies; I will have a look at the nursery, thanks (don’t know it!). Always more to learn. See you soon!
looking for stewartia ovata even the pollyhill red rose cultivar would do any help greatl;y appreciated thanks lee leef2@verizon.net
Welcome, Lee. I see that Fairweather is sold out, but I expect you can get on a wait list if they will have it again. I don’t see it at any of the other usual suspects, sorry.
found stewartia ovata at gosslers farm nursery mail order lee
Hi Margaret:
I am looking for a multistemmed Stewartia Pseudocamellia but all I can seem to find are single stemmed plants. Do you train them somehow to be multistemmed or do I just have to keep looking?
Thanks!
Welcome, Bevin. I’d ask the nurseries in your area to ask their suppliers; tell them you want one that “breaks low” on the trunk, so that it will develop into a multi-stem look. Each individual plant is different, but they should be able to help you find one with those characteristics.
Margaret:
We have planted a multistem stewartia and all is going well-one problem…..the chipmunks one in particular are climbing up and eating buds! Please help….any suggestions??? They are tormenting me!!!!
Thanks,
Suzanne
@Suzanne: It’s much like squirrels: Short of trapping them, I don’t know anything that deters chipmunks from their appointed rounds…which here can be anything from eating tree and shrubs buds to denuding vegetable and fruit plants to digging up every seed I plant and on and on. We are having a bumper chipmunk year in 2010 here, and their mischief is everywhere. Wish I had a solution.
I have five stewartia pseudocamellias which are dong fine. I think the main thing is to keep them watered for the first two yrs. They do not like drought. Japanese beetles are somewhat fond of them but the trees have survived happily.
mje
Just planted S. Koreana last week after reading that it lived in Minnesota and Orono Maine. Its a bit risky, but who could resist. If you’re looking for one I got mine at Rocky Dale in Bristol Vermont and they had a few more. I’d call first if driving a long way.
I love my Stewartia. My landscaper planted it next to my patio as part of a large landscaping project 5 years ago this August. Here is Central NJ, the flowers have bloomed and gone…we loved them. Question: Is there a prescribed way to prune Stewartias? Because ours is next to the patio some of the lower branches (we have multi trunks) are intruding on living space.
Thanks.
I planted a Stewartia about 3 months ago in full sun. I live in central New York, zone 4. It seemed to be doing great, but today I noticed that the buds are being eaten and a number of leaves are turning brown and crinkling. Some more leaves are being eaten by something that results in the leaf looking like lacework. After reading the previous posts, I now assume chipmunks have been busy feasting, but what about the brown crinkling leaves and the ones that now resemble lace? Is is Japanese Beetles? I don’t see any bugs crawling around. Could the browning leaves be a result of an abundance of rainfall? Please help.
Welcome, Trish. I wonder if it’s not just some form of reaction to the transplanting (the browning, I mean). The first year in the ground plants can sulk, or even rebel. You have to be very careful with deep, regular watering and especially in a full-sun spot.
For lacey and skeletonized leaves, look at this diagnostic page from the University of MD that gives some photos of various forms of leaf beetles and what they can do to trees, to see if you find something familiar, or better yet, start on this page about afflictions of tree leaves and try to narrow the diagnosis somewhat (since I cannot see what’s up from here).
wow. what a killer small tree / large shrub. thank you for this…and I am glad that I have bookmarked your blog, it is one of the best stops on my chain of links.
Welcome, Victor. I am glad to “meet” you and show off the Stewartia as well…such a lovely thing it is. Hope to see you again soon.
Hi Margaret – My Stewartia is 3 or 4 years old. It seems to bloom only every other year. Is that normal?
Welcome, Deena. Not to worry; it takes some years to shape up into a consistent bloomer, I think, so be patient. I’m assuming it’s maybe 6 feet tall or something now? Mine (more than 15 now) blooms a lot more than when it was young.
Hi Margaret, This year I purchased a Stewartia Ovata. It arrived in a small pot, and was perhaps 6-7 inches tall in spring. I could not find any images of it at that early stage of growth. Quite frankly, I wondered if it had died. It seemed too small to plant, either the landscaper’s lawnmower would get to it or my son would knock it out with a soccer ball. So I waited until I could wait no more. A couple of weeks ago, I just planted it in the middle of my vegetable garden. At least it would be safe-it was just so forlorn sitting in my back patio. I still don’t know if it is alive or not, but the branches seem flexible. My question is, would you recommend any specific type of fertilizer? My other concern is that with this heat, fertilizer might not be such a good thing. I am new to gardening, this year I have a vegetable garden for the first time, so the soil is quite rich with organic material.
Welcome, Adrienne. No matter what kind of tree or shrub (or any plant for that matter), I almost never feed when something’s stressed/ailing. I liken it to eating a big dinner right after surgery — not good for the body, right? Keep it well-watered, perhaps erect a shade structure (wire hoops or bamboo canes, a piece of light fabric, clothespins) to keep it from cooking, and see what sprouts. But no food — good instinct on your part. :) See you soon again!
Hi Margaret- Last September we planted a Stewartia. It looks healthy this year but it never flowered– I noticed in the Spring that there were buds on it that looked brown and dried. Any chance the flooding rains we had in late winter (in Massachusetts) caused the problem? Should we just hope for better next year? Should I pinch those dried up buds off?
Thanks!
Welcome, Carolyn. So many things can hamper flowering on a recently planted tree, in my experience. I try not to panic unless I see other signs of ill health or weakness…and I of course keep things well-watered when they are adjusting the first few years. Give it a little more time to adjust.
Hi Margaret – My Stewartia is actually about 10 or 12 feet tall. many leaves have brown edges now. Should i water a lot more ? deep watering? Should I thin out so ” the birds can fly though” as my gardening friend advises? Do I need to fertilize now or in spring?
@Deena: At this time of the season, I’d just keep deep watering (right through when the ground freezes) but don’t prune (possibly stimulating new growth accidentally) until spring. No fertilizer for woody plants beyond July here — again, gets them growing when they should be planning to wind down for fall and winter.
can you recommend a source where can stewartia be ordered
Welcome, Kay. I would try Forest Farm catalog as a first place, but if you can buy one in a local nursery, that will be even better. Ask now, in fall, for the local garden center to have one for you come spring.
Gossler Farms has Stewartia malacodendron, which is purported to be a southeastern US native. Forest Farm has a good selection of Asian species, and their quality has been exemplary in my experience.
Thanks, Deborah. Two great resources. Hope to see you soon again.
How do you get a Stewartia multi stemed trunk breaking low from the base? I bought a stewartia last summer 2010 which is a single trunk. The tree is just a little over 4 feet from the ground.
I LOVE your photo of the multi-stemmed one and want mine to look like that! I wonder if I prune it now, (March 2011 in Seattle) will it have more stems from the base?
If so, how do I prune it?
Thanks for your consideration!
Welcome, Virginia. I requested one from my local nursery, who located it for me. There are single-trunk forms and ones that “break” lower (nearer tot he base) like mine. Same is true with many woody plants (kousa dogwoods, for instance) but you know how each specimen in the nursery of a particular tree or shrub is slightly different. So you probably cannot correctively prune it (I say “probably” because I can’t see it from here but it’s almost certainly true); it needs to start that way.
Forest Farm is definitely a great place for the six Asian Stewartias (pseudocamelia, koreana, monadelpha, sinensis, rostrata and serrata). Rostrata seems to be a good one for multiple trunks—mine (5 yrs.; 8′ tall) has two almost-horizontal branches that come out on opposite sides at about 5-6″, but its new growth is so floppy that it takes careful pruning to look its best; Careful thinning in late winter to open up the bush. In the summer, around July 1 reduce any floppy secondary branches by up to 1/2 of length, but not the ends of the major branches. Sometimes, when you want a low branch, it helps to just nick the cambium of the trunk in 2-3 places, just enough to see the green—often, but not always, when the small wound heals, the newly grown bark will contain an adventitious bud. Then, the following winter, head the tree back (in all its major branches) about 6 inches or so: that gives the tree’s adventitious buds a better chance to grow.
Welcome, Stu. Love your adventurous suggestions about how to urge low-breaking branches. Fascinating. I her you about low growth being floppy; I have that with some old magnolias, and the decision is always what to do…lose the graceful aspect, or have to deal with so much tweaking with pruners to keep it from just lying on the ground. :)
“lose the graceful aspect, or have to deal with so much tweaking with pruners to keep it from just lying on the ground. :)”
That’s the question, and I’m not particularly consistent in how I answer it! Thanks for the recommendations in this comment string for Stewartia sources. Turns out there’s one about a 90-minute drive from my home. Trying to establish collection of all the Stewartias usually found in gardens.
Margaret,
I want to thank you for the mention above of Gossler Farms Nursery, on the northeast end of Springfield, Oregon. A week ago i made the hour and a half drive down there, met with one of the Mr. Gosslers—and came home with grafted specimens of S. ovata ‘grandiflora’, S. malacodendron, —and two more rooted stewartias, S. pseudocemellia ‘Ballet’ and S. henryae ‘Skyrocket’ (a cross between pseudocamellia and monadelpha). That now brings my stewartia collection up to 10. I’m hunting now for S. pseudocamellia ‘Scarlet Splendor,’ which is apparently very difficult to propagate. It would be great fun to find one of the 3-4 evergreen species, but initial web searches haven’t turned up anything. —Stu
Stewartias are my favorite tree! So much so that my husband bought me one as an anniversary present a couple years ago. Speaking of wedding, there is a magnificent specimen at the Bartlett Arboretum in North Stamford, CT (where we got married) that should be seen if you are in the area.
Happy Spring!
Welcome, Abby. What a romantic Stewartia story! :) Very, very sweet. They are beautiful trees. Glad to “meet” you and hope to hear from you soon again.
We are longing to have a Stewartia ovata. I have checked Gossler farms and Catskill Native Nursery but neither carries it. We are in NY (the Hudson Valley / Berkshire Mountain area – right down the road from you, Margaret) and would appreciate any help in locating this lovely tree. Thanks!
Welcome, Kristin. I’d call Windy Hill in Great Barrington, which is accustomed to sourcing special things for customers for many years. I don’t know if they have it, but I can say they have found me very special things.
Hello, I have enjoyed reading the above posts and learning more about Stewartias. I am a new homeowner, new gardener, and new mother. I first heard about the tree from my mother and sister, both passionate gardeners. My husband and I just planted a young Stewartia in our front yard as a gift for my first Mother’s Day. We look forward to watching it grow and change through the years, along with our son!
It seems like a fairly low-maintenance tree from what I’ve read, but would love any advice to keep it happy and healthy. We live in New England (MA), and planted it using a mix of bio-tone enhanced compost soil and the native soil, and made a ring of mulch around the tree. Besides lots of water and love, are there any other care tips for our Stewartia that we should know heading into the summer?
Thanks!
Hi, Wendy. I think it’s mostly being attuned to its needs the first couple of years in the ground, in case there are dry spells (not this spring!) particularly. I have never had any issues with the tree, but I was careful not to let it suffer for lack of water,e specially in the early years. I have to say I haven’t really had to coddle it at all since it got established. It is pretty carefree.
Thanks, Margaret – I’ll try Windy Hill. If anyone else has any other ideas, please let me know.
I have a japanese stewartia that I planted spring 2010. It grew well last year and seemed to weather the winter well and developed buds. But as the spring progressed, it seems to have encountered problems. It only has leaves on a bottom branch and looks like the rest of the plant has died or perhaps is dormant. I don’t see any evidence of chipmunk or squirell damage. I live in south-central PA and the tree is planted in full sunlight. Appreciate any thoughts or advice.