Stewartia ovata var ovata |
Syn. Stewartia pentagyna
Native Region: South Appalacian Mountains, USA
Zone Range: 5-8
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining non rocky soils
Harvest Date: Wednesday 25 November, 2009
Seed count: 8-10
Description:
A rare North American Stewartia species with ivory white camellia like blooms appearing in late spring. A relatively small tree reaching 5 meters in height with a spread of 3-4 meters; branching is a unique zig-zag fashion giving it a busy appearance. Non exfoliating cinnamon coloured fissured bark. Simple dark green shallow toothed leaves become blazingly scarlet in the fall. Very few if any disease or pest problems...as with all Stewartia.
Notes:
Native to a very small region in the Southeast USA; North & South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Because of this its extremely vulnerable to habitat destruction/fragmentation.
Cultivation:
Soak seed for 24 hours. Seeds should swell. If seeds don't swell, briefly GENTLY scarify by rubbing seed with a small amount of sand between your palms. 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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