Stewartia ovata

Mountain stewartia is in the tea or Theaceae family and is native to low to mid-elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains and nearby regions from Mississippi to Virginia. It is a shrub or small tree, growing up to 5 m tall.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to elliptic, dark green, 7–13 cm long and 3–6 cm broad, with a pointed apex, serrated edges; leaf stocks are broadly winged; foliage turns orange or red in the fall.
• Flowers develop in early summer, are camellia-like, up to 7 cm across, with 5 white petals and orange anthers, appearing in mid-summer when few other trees are in bloom.
• Fruit is a reddish brown woody capsule, up to 2.5 cm long, sharply pointed, with 4 or 5 angles.