Alphabetical Plant Listing

Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia)

Silky Camellia, Virginia Stewartia, Round-fruited Stewartia


A delightful addition to almost any garden, Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia) is a bushy deciduous shrub or small tree with a dense foliage of ovate, dark green leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), silky underneath. Delicate, saucer-shaped, white flowers, 3 in. wide (8 cm), adorned with showy purple stamens and blue anthers appear in mid-spring to early summer in the leaf axils. Resembling camellias, they give way to small, woody, egg-shaped capsules containing lustrous brown seeds. The foliage turns brilliant shades of greenish-yellow to yellow in fall. The shedding of leaves exposes the lightly striped cinnamon-colored bark, adding winter interest. Slow-growing, Silky Camellia has a name for being difficult in cultivation. It makes, however, an excellent accent or specimen plant.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Typically grows up to 10-18 ft. tall (300-540 cm) and 15-25 ft. wide (450-750 cm)
  • Thrives in woodland conditions, favoring moist, humus-rich, acidic, well-drained soil in partial shade. Silky camellia prefers deep shade during the heat of the day but performs well in early morning sun. The roots must be fully shaded from the hot sun, and they resent disturbance or transplanting.
  • Great flowering shrub for woodland gardens, city gardens, or cottage gardens.
  • Virtually pest and disease free
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold-frame in fall.
  • No routine pruning is necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots.
  • Native to the southeastern United States.

Buy Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia)

Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 9
Heat Zones 6 – 9
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early)
Fall
Height 12' – 18' (3.6m – 5.4m)
Spread 15' – 25' (4.5m – 7.5m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants


Florida Fish and Wildlife, Flickr

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 9
Heat Zones 6 – 9
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early)
Fall
Height 12' – 18' (3.6m – 5.4m)
Spread 15' – 25' (4.5m – 7.5m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Plant Calculator

How many Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.