Stewartia pseudocamellia

Japanese species

TheaceaeStewartia

Japanese stewartia ("natsubaki" in Japanese) is in the tea or Theaceae family and is native to southern Japan and Korea. It grows up to 15 m tall with multiple stems.

  • Leaves are alternate, simple, 4–12 cm long and 2.5–5 cm broad, arranged alternately on the stems with an elliptical shape and finely serrated edges. Leaves turn a reddish colour in the fall.
  • Flowers bloom in mid-summer through to fall and are up to 8 cm wide, 5 petals with orange anthers, resembling related camellias which are round, flat and cupped.
  • Fruit is a brown triangular capsule with 4 or 5 angles, opening and staying on the tree over winter.
  • Bark is smooth and exfoliating with age; young twigs are zigzag with divergent buds.

Contributors

  • Philippe de Spoelberch