Stewartia pseudocamellia |
Native Region: Japan
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Climate: Semi sunny coolish sites; well draining evenly moist deep relatively fertile soil.
Harvest Date: Saturday 31 December, 2011
Seed count: 15-20
Description:
This lovely deciduous multistemmed tree/shrub, at maturity, reaches a height of 11 meters with a spread of 5 meters. Rarely needs pruning to keep a balanced form. Bright green thick leaves in the Spring turn vivid scarlets in the Autumn. Smallish camellia-like white frilled petaled flowers have a large yellow boss of staemens from June to early August often filling the flowering gap at that time of year. Nice exfolating bark gives this species more depth.
Notes:
Needs evenly moist acidic soil for best performance and winter hardiness (similar to Acer palmatum). Not tolerant of standing water or excessive drought when young. Takes care of itself when established.
Cultivation:
Soak seed for 24 hours. Seeds should swell. If seeds don't swell, briefly scarify by gently rubbing seed with a small amount of sand. Use a plate to catch any fallen material. Resoak for 12 hours. Use a baggie of sterile moist medium or sow in a nursery pot and warm stratify 120 days at 15-18 C. Never let seed dry out. After the 120 days, the seed now needs to 90 days of cold stratification to complete the cycle. Expose to Spring like conditions of 20C for germination. Sow 4 mm deep, tamp soil and mulch helps retain moisture.
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