Grid reference | ST 15010 77635 |
Common name | Deciduous camellia |
Alternative name | Stewartia pseudocamellia |
Origin | Japan |
Deciduous | Yes |
Status | Rather rare |
Height | 6.5M November 2017 |
Girth | 48cm October 2017 |
Reference | 539 |
This tree is at the west end of the Rock Garden, between the end of the water feature and the path.
General tree description
Stuartia (or Stewartia) pseudocamellia is a small to medium-sized tree, up to around 15 metres tall, characterised by flaking orange-cream bark. It has ovate leaves which turn yellow and red in autumn, and large (6cm wide), white, camellia-like flowers in mid-summer.
"The genus was named in honour of John Stuart, Earl of Bute (1713-92), a gifted amateur botanist... Linnaeus was misled into spelling the generic name "Stewartia". This unintentional mis-spelling was amended to Stuartia by L'Heritier in 1785, and the generic name was almost universally so spelt throughout the 19th century." (W.J. Bean Trees & shrubs hardy in the British Isles, 8th edition revised, Volume IV, page 507)