Stewartia ovata
Mountain Stewartia
HIDDEN TREASURE
OF THE ARBORETUM
B y N i a l l D u n n e
Stewartias are among the stars of the summer-flowering season at the Arboretum . While the Asian stewartia species in the main grove on the southern edge of the Camellia Collection justifiably receive a lot of praise , the lesser-known mountain stewartia ( Stewartia ovata ) from the southeastern U . S ., growing nearby , deserves accolades as well .
You ’ ll find four specimens of mountain stewartia tucked in and around Rhododendron Glen . The species doesn ’ t possess the stunning bark of Stewartia monadelpha or S . pseudocamellia , however it produces a flower of extraordinary beauty , and the fall foliage is not too shabby either .
Stewartia ovata is a small , deciduous tree or large shrub native to the southern Appalachian region . It grows at low-to-mid elevations in the forest understory , and at openings along streams and bluffs . In the wild , it reaches to about 20 feet , whereas in cultivation the ultimate height averages between 10 and 15 feet . The species name “ ovata ” refers to the egg-shaped leaves , which are dark green in spring and summer and grow between three and six inches long .
For the whole month of July , the plant bears an abundance of large , five-petalled , camellia-like white flowers with orange-yellow anthers — the tiny , pollen-producing sacs that form part of the stamens . ( Stewartias are members of the tea family , Theaceae , and closely related to camellias .) The flower petals have lovely ruffled edges , and don ’ t get me started on the stamen filaments , which hold the anthers aloft ! ( Okay , do !) In the wild , these mainly vary in color between white and yellow , but in the Arboretum ’ s specimens the filaments are a gorgeous purple .
The beautifully contrasting white petals , orange-yellow anthers , and purple stamen filaments .
Summer 2021 v 5