FNPS Plant Database

Stewartia malacodendron

silky camelia, Virginia stewartia

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

silky camelia, Virginia stewartia

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Stewartia malacodendron

Family:

Theaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

to 10 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

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.

Considerations:

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries

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.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acid to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Slope forest, upland hardwood forest, baygall. On acidic soils.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

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.

Citations:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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