Stewartia pseudocamellia Common name - Japanese stewartia

Location: enter the Garden, immediately turn left into the Tateuchi Community Room courtyard.

With its beautiful mottled bark, white summer flowers, and stunning fall leaf colors, Stewartia pseudocamellia is an elegant tree to enjoy all year long.

Both its Latin species name pseudocamellia (imitation camellia) and its Japanese name natsu tsukaki (summer camellia) refer to the flowering time of its delicate flowers.

Flower buds develop on the branches in May and open in July to display striking 2 inch flowers with five petals cupped around bright yellow stamens. Opening one by one, they provide a month’s long display after true camellia flowers have fallen in the spring.

Stewartia pseudocamellia is deciduous, with fresh green oval leaves in the spring, growing in an alternate pattern along light, arching branches.

In fall the leaves take on multi-color hues of yellow, red, and dark purple that rival maple tree colors. True camellias, in contrast, are evergreen with shiny, leathery, dark green leaves all year.

The bark adds another feature with its mottled coloring of rust, grey, and brown, inviting the visitor to take a closer look.

Japanese stewartias are native to the mountains of Japan, except the northernmost island. They grow in woodlands in light shade with camellias and rhododendrons, preferring moist, well drained, acid soil. They are not subject to diseases and pests.

In Japan stewartias are often planted along streets, in parks, and near temples.

In our garden this young specimen was planted in the Tateuchi Community Room courtyard in the winter of 2022-23. Notice the distinctive kink in its trunk. Over the next 20 years it will grow to 25 feet high by 12 feet wide - or more. Come watch it grow!

Chie IidaJuly 1, 2024iris