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Japanese Stewartia
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Posted by
chris209 Z7a LI, NY (
My Page) on
Fri, Nov 16, 12 at 20:29
I thinking of purchasing a Japanese Stewartia, but have some reservations. Does this tree produce an abundance of flowers, or are they not very showy? I can't seem to find a picture of it in full bloom, so I'm thinking it's not really grown for the flowers as much as it is for its form, bark and fall foliage. What are you feelings about this species? How about Korean Stewartia? Are they very different? Would I be better off with a magnolia?
Thanks for your help,
Chris |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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| The flowers on Stewartia pseudocamellia do not last long but the plant blooms in succession. So not covered all at once but blooming lasts a couple of weeks. It blooms (for me) in late June-early July which is nice since other trees are done by then. I enjoy this plant and am glad to have it. tj |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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They are very pretty, but yes, the flowers are probably somewhat secondary to the bark and fall foliage.
They are not easy to establish, and aren't very drought tolerant in their first few years. Comes from an Asian monsoon climate with monthly summer rainfall of roughly 8" instead of our 4". I lost one in the hot summer of 2011 because I wasn't watering it consistently. (planted in Spring of 2010 and survived that hot summer, barely) Though on LI you're probably in one of the easier places to establish them in the eastern CONUS, recent storms notwithstanding. If you're in a mood for low maintenance, a magnolia is going to be better for you. I've found even the relatively fussy Gresham varieties aren't very demanding of care...and Southern Magnolia (if that's what you meant) would be practically indestructible on LI, if you choose a winter-hardy enough cultivar. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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| Japanese stewartia will do very well in Long Island. My sister-in-law who lives on the north shore has two, and they are thriving. They bloom in early-to-mid June. Not very showy in bloom, but it's definitely an excellent four-season small tree. John |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 14:56
| If it does well you may need room for a medium tree, if the long term is being planned for. Here we see them stuck in foundation plantings and other inadequate spaces where they will just have to be cut down later. I've got one across the street that has been in place for decades now, that a previous owner began shearing at one point and the maintenance service continues to shear. It is ridiculous, a tight, hedge-like oval with a big trunk visible near the base. Don't remember now if it even manages to bloom much. Without the mal-pruning it might be pretty tall and nice by now. One in England was 56' tall in 1985 and another, here in Washington State had reached 45' by 1992. Examples in Seattle (USDA 8) measured ca. 2005 range from 30' to 42'+. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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| if the standard of floral comparison is magnolia, malus, prunus, where the entire tree becomes abliteral living bouquet of flowers, no stewartia is not spectacular in bloom. however, the two to three inch flowers show well againt the foliage backdrop and while more reserved in their expression than some of the early spring bloomers, are remarkable for their blooms. as well as potential for fall color, winter bark appeal. the combimation of features is beyond remarkable. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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- Posted by botann z8 SEof Seattle (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 20:11
I have a couple of Stewartia pseudocamellias, but I prefer the monodelpha better. It has nicer Fall color.
Mike 
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RE: Japanese Stewartia
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Thank you all for the useful information! I will take this all into consideration as I make my decision. The spot I have in mind has plenty of room, but I'm a little worried it'll be too sunny.
I've recently purchased a home with a 1/2 acre to play with, and I am trying to not make any major planting decisions too hastily.
Thanks again,
Chris |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 23:03
| Does the botann tree shown here have the all-red bark of S. monadelpha? The foliage looks like it is perhaps intermediate, I have seen S. x henryae (S. monadelpha x S. pseudocamellia) more that once in blocks of stock delivered to local outlets that was supposed to be one species or the other. This hybrid is not as rare as one might think from some of the literature on the subject. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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Mine blooms very briefly, each flower hardly lasting more than a day. The foliage is a amber orange each Fall. The tree is too small to show much of the attractive bark coloring.
The flowers hang down, but those on the Korean Stewartia are not supposed to. My Korean tree is too small to bloom, at this time, but it also colored nicely, this Fall.
While on vacation, I almost lost my P.japonica, as the person watering the plants did not water it. It is recovered. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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- Posted by picea 6A Cinci- Oh (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 23:59
| My Korean Stewartia Has the best color of any plant in my Garden and can easily rival Nyssa. |
RE: Japanese Stewartia
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- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 13:30
| Seedlings vary. I've seen Korean stewartia with down-facing flowers at the Seattle arboretum. The stereotypic concepts of Korean stewartia vs. Japanese are based in part on the Korean long being represented in western cultivation only by a single introduction. |
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