Stewartia rostrata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeastern China
Plant Profile: Stewartia rostrata
Names
Upright Stewartia
Phonetic Spelling:stew-ART-ee-ah ro-STRAY-tah
Genus:Stewartia
Species:rostrata
Family:Theaceae
The Upright Stewartia is a deciduous tree or shrub characterized by multiple trunks, reaching heights of up to 30 feet and spreading 15 feet wide. This species is indigenous to eastern China. In spring, it showcases stunning cup-shaped white flowers, measuring as much as 2.5 inches across, adorned with yellow stamens and emitting a subtle fragrance. Its glossy green foliage transforms into a reddish hue in the fall, while the enduring seed capsules provide added visual interest.
For optimal growth, plant this tree in fertile, well-drained, acidic, and moist soil, ideally in areas that receive partial sunlight to filtered shade. It is sensitive to drought conditions and requires protection from strong winds. Due to its somewhat particular care requirements, it can be challenging to transplant. This tree is best suited for a woodland environment as a flowering specimen or as a focal point in a shaded garden.
Stewartia rostrata Feature Summary
Stewartia rostrata Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
Similar Plants
Stewartia rostrata is often confused with:
Stewartia rostrata Feature Summary
Attributes
Southeastern China
Woody
Fruit
Beaked seed capsule red maturing to brown
Capsule
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Flowers
2-2.5" white flowers with reddish tinged bracts in May
White
Gold/Yellow
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Leathery glossy green leaves are ovate to elliptic with acuminate apices, rounded bases, and serrate margins. 2-4 inches long by 1-1.5 inches wide. Undersides with tufts of hairs in vein axils. Fall color in reds/yellow
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Glossy
Leathery
1-3 inches
Bark
Bark gray-brown, furrowed and ridged
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Ridges
Furrowed
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Stem
Landscape
Stewartia rostrata Image Gallery
Stewartia rostrata Attributes
Stewartia rostrata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Stewartia rostrata Fruit
Stewartia rostrata: Fruit Description
Beaked seed capsule red maturing to brown
Stewartia rostrata: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Stewartia rostrata: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Stewartia rostrata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Stewartia rostrata Flowers
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Description
2-2.5" white flowers with reddish tinged bracts in May
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
White
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Stewartia rostrata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Stewartia rostrata Leaves
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Description
Leathery glossy green leaves are ovate to elliptic with acuminate apices, rounded bases, and serrate margins. 2-4 inches long by 1-1.5 inches wide. Undersides with tufts of hairs in vein axils. Fall color in reds/yellow
Stewartia rostrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Color
Green
Stewartia rostrata: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Stewartia rostrata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Stewartia rostrata: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Stewartia rostrata Bark
Stewartia rostrata: Bark Description
Bark gray-brown, furrowed and ridged
Stewartia rostrata: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Stewartia rostrata: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Stewartia rostrata Whole Plant Traits
Stewartia rostrata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Stewartia rostrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Stewartia rostrata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Stewartia rostrata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Stewartia rostrata Cultural Conditions
Stewartia rostrata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Stewartia rostrata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Stewartia rostrata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Stewartia rostrata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Stewartia rostrata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Stewartia rostrata Stem
Stewartia rostrata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Stewartia rostrata: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Stewartia rostrata: Stem Bud Scales
Enclosed in 2 scales
Enclosed in a single cap like scale
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
No scales, covered in hair
Stewartia rostrata Landscape
Stewartia rostrata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Stewartia rostrata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Stewartia rostrata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
