Quackin Grass Nursery

Stewartia monadelpha - On a winter trek to Arnold Arboretum with the astute Russell Stafford of Odyssey Bulbs we came upon a grouping of older specimens of Tall Stewartia, their remarkably muscled and smooth trunks and branches on full display. Dark, warm cinnamon colored scaly papery exfoliations lend even more beauty. Trees exhibited unusual sinuous and open branching; they were spectacular in the winter landscape. Reddish to bronze leaves color in the shortening days of autumn from dark green summer foliage. Small starry white late spring cupped flowers, one to one and one-half inches across, though not as showy as Japanese Stewartia are, nevertheless, abundant and pretty. In fact, they look like smaller versions of those of the Japanese Stewartia. Another great small to medium-sized ornamental tree with four seasons interest, no pest problems and not at all a nuisance. Full to mostly sunny siting planted in fertile moisture retaining to draining soil. Possibly cutting grown but much more likely from seed.