Stewartia ovata

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

stew-AR-tee-ah oh-VAY-tah

Description

Stewartia ovata, commonly referred to as Mountain Camellia, is a deciduous shrub native to the piedmont and mountains of North Carolina. In nature, it can be found in mesic forests, especially acidic bluffs, and often in the openings of rhododendron thickets.

Spreading branches; bushy habit; slow grower; orange to scarlet fall foliage; difficulty to transplant; native to the southeastern US; attractive gray-brown bark; can be multi-trunked shrub or small tree; NC Significantly Rare species

This plant is not heat or drought tolerant. It has a bushy habit with spreading branches.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

var. grandiflora

var. grandiflora

Tags:

#deciduous #small tree #full sun tolerant #white flowers #shrub #slow growing #native tree #piedmont #native shrub #fall interest #moist soil #food source wildlife #NC native #well-drained soil #large shrub #rich soils #summer flowers #flowering shrub #bushy #thickets #native garden #attractive leaves #mountains #summer interest #acidic soils tolerant #multitrunked #mid-summer flowers #fruits summer #food source summer #rare #early summer flowers #loamy soils tolerant #fruits #food source hard mast fruit #fall color red #fall color orange #fruits early fall #partial shade tolerant #food source flowers #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #non-toxic for cats #Audubon #partial sun tolerant

Stewartia ovata — Leonora Enking CC BY-SA 4.0

Cultivars / Varieties:

var. grandiflora

var. grandiflora

Tags:

Attributes:
Genus:

Stewartia

Species:

ovata

Family:

Theaceae

Country Or Region Of Origin:

South Eastern U.S.A

Play Value:

Attractive Flowers

Dimensions:

Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.

Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Native Plant

Shrub

Tree

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Spreading

Growth Rate:

Slow

Texture:

Medium

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

High Organic Matter

Loam (Silt)

Soil pH:

Acid (<6.0)

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Moist

NC Region:

Coastal

Mountains

Piedmont

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Orange

Red/Burgundy

Display/Harvest Time:

Summer

Fruit Description:

In North Carolina, the red-orange fruits are available from August to September.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

White

Flower Bloom Time:

Summer

Flower Description:

White with yellow stamens. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from June to July.

Leaves:
Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Feel:

Rubbery

Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

Orange

Red/Burgundy

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

3-6 inches

Bark:
Bark Color:

Light Brown

Light Gray

Bark Description:

Attractive bark

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Theme:

Native Garden

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Stewartia ovata

Common Name(s):