Stewartia malacodendron

Silky Camelia, Virginia Stewartia

Theaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:	Shrub
Size:	to 10 ft
Life Span:	Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:	White
Phenology:	Deciduous
Noted for:	Showy flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:	Specimen plant. This is an open-branched shrub that can be trained into a small tree. It prefers habitats under a high canopy.
Propagation:	According to wildflower.org, one method of propagation by seed is to sow fresh seeds in cold frame or greenhouse and keep the seedlings lightly shaded the first year. Another method is to double-stratify the seeds and fall sow in a well-protected spot. Germination may take two years.
Availability:	Native nurseries, Quality nurseries
Light:	Part Shade,  Shade
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry)
Moisture Tolerance:	Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:	Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:	Loam, Sand
Soil pH:	Acid to neutral

Ecology

Wildlife:
Insects:
Native Habitats:	Slope forest, upland hardwood forest, baygall. On acidic soils.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Comments

General Comments:

The cream-colored petals are crimped at the margins with numerous dark-purple stamen filaments and bluish anthers. Silky hairs cover the lower leaf surface.