Stewartia malacodendron

Silky Stewartia. This incredible native large shrub or small tree has to be one of the aristocrats of our native "woodies" with its incredible "silky" white camellia-like flowers. It is of course in the Camellia family, Theaceae, from which we get three other native species, M. ovata (Mountain Stewartia), Gordonia lasianthus (Loblolly Bay) and grows in the wild from Virginia to Mississippi, and Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin Tree) which is now extinct in the South. To begin with it will be more shrub-like with a broader than high profile. It flowers in mid spring with 2.5 inch white flowers with purple streaks at the base of its petals. This is a strain the we got from Woodlanders which is unique in this respect, as I have seen some local stands that completely lack the purple streaking. The filaments of the stamens are also a deep purple. It is best grown in filtered sun with adequate moisture or even rather dense shade, where I have seen it thriving. But too much shade will limit flo