Stewartia pseudocamellia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Stewartia pseudocamellia is cold-hardy to about -20°c when dormant[1]. Requires a deep humus-rich moist but not boggy soil[1]. Dislikes limey soils, preferring peaty conditions[2, 1]. Prefers a position with some shade, at least from the midday sun[1]. Another report says that it prefers a sunny sheltered position[2]. The tree is said to grow best in an acid soi, with a pH 4.5 - 6.5, with ample moisture and high organic matter content. But trees are also found growing very well without irrigation in poor quality, compacted clay soils[3]. A slow-growing tree[4]. Resents root disturbance, plants should be put in their permanent positions as soon as possible[2, 1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoor seedbed if there is sufficient seed[5]. Stored seed is best soaked for 3 days in warm water and then given 3 - 5 months warm stratification followed by 3 months cold stratification at 5°c, it can take 18 months to germinate[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer. Cuttings of short side branches, 8cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[6, 1]. One report says it is best to keep the cuttings growing through the winter if possible[6] whilst another says they should be allowed to become dormant once they have rooted[1]. Layering. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Stewartia+pseudocamellia>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [2]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
- [3]Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida — University of Florida · http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/ ↩︎PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
- [4]KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder — Missouri Botanical Garden · http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ ↩︎Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
- [5]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
- [6]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
- [7]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
- [8]Flora of Japan. (English translation) — Ohwi. G. · Smithsonian Institution · 1965 · ISBN - ↩︎The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
- [9]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.