Stewartia monadelpha, known as tall stewartia or orangebark stewartia, is a deciduous shrub or multi-stemmed tree native to the temperate rainforests of Japan. Stewartia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. The genus name Stewartia is in honor of the 18th century Scottish botanist, John Stuart.
Distribution and habitat Tall stewartia is endemic to Japan and primarily grows in cool, montane temperate rainforest zones; specifically, south-central Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku islands. It is also cultivated in other countries as an ornamental plant.
Description Its appearance varies from a sturdy shrub to a small tree with orange or cinnamon-brown colored bark. It typically grows to a height of but has been known to reach . As the plant matures its form changes from a pyramidal crown to become more open with horizontal branches reaching outwards. The dark green leaves are elliptic and oblong in shape and have serrated edges, growing to approximately long, and turn red in the autumn. In June, small cupped flowers appear, growing wide the flowers are white with yellow stamens, similar in appearance to camellia flowers.
Ecology This plant grows best in partial shade, but having an excellent heat tolerance, is able to grow well in full sunlight. In terms of soil, tall stewartia can tolerate well-drained clay, loam, sandy, and acidic soils.
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