View source for Stewartia malacodendron

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Theaceae
|genus=Stewartia
|species=malacodendron
|common_name=Silky camellia, Virginia stewartia
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=tree
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Min ht box=15
|Min ht metric=ft
|Max ht box=30
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max wd box=10
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=flowers
|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flowers=white
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=7
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=9
|image=Stewartia malacodendron.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Stewartia malacodendron''''' ('''Silky Stewartia''' or '''Silky camellia''' or '''Virginia stewartia''') is a species of plant in the [[genus]] ''Stewartia'' and family [[Theaceae]]. It grows slowly into a large [[deciduous]] [[shrub]] or small [[tree]], typically 3 to 4.5 meters tall, but sometimes as tall as 9 meters. It is native from southeastern United States from the Coastal Plain area, found growing on the side of streams, ravines and wooded bluffs in well draining soils.

Silky camellia is an under-story woodland species with rich brown colored [[bark]]. The young [[Plant stem|stem]]s are hairy, the buds are covered by two overlapping scales with silver hairs. The [[branch]]es tend to grow with a horizontal orientation from the main stem with the foliage produced on shorter stems branching off these horizontally orientated branches.<ref>[http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/stma.html Silky-Camellia (Stewartia malacodendron)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The alternately arranged, dark green, simple leaves are 50 to 100&nbsp;mm long (2 to 4 inches) with finely toothed margins covered with fine hairs on the undersides, especially on the veins. The leaves are ovate to elliptical in shape with sharp pointed tips. The flowers are 60-90&nbsp;mm wide(2.5 to 3.5 inches),<ref>[http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/stewartia_malacodendron.html Trees: Stewartia malacodendron<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> showy with five white colored petals. The [[stamen]]s have purple filaments and blue colored [[anther]]s that fill the middle of flat, cup shaped [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]]s. The flowers are born singularly from the leaf axils on short stalks with two floral bracts (2-4&nbsp;mm long) that remain after flowering is done. Flowers with five green [[sepal]]s each 8-11&nbsp;mm long and 5-9&nbsp;mm wide. Blooming in July and August in the northern part of its range and blooming in April in the southern part of its range.<ref>DIRR, M. (1983). Manual of woody landscape plants: their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses. Champaign, Ill, Stipes Pub. Co. page 667. ISBN 0-87563-226-2</ref> Rounded, woody seed [[Capsule (fruit)|capsules]] are produced after flowering, each capsule with 4-5 chambers and if fertilized, each chamber has 2-4 seeds.<ref>http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/assets/documents/stewma.pdf</ref> The wingless seeds are full, ovoid in shape and purplish to reddish-brown in color with a shiny sheen, each seed is 5-7&nbsp;mm long and 4-6&nbsp;mm wide.

''S. malacodendron'' is native to Texas, where it is rare, being found in a small area along Little Cow Creek near Burkeville, blooming in April and May. ''S. malacodendron'' is also found in scattered locations in the states of Arkansas, Georgia, Florida (panhandle region), Louisiana and southern Alabama and as far north as Virginia.<ref>[http://arboretum.sfasu.edu/plants/stewartiamalacodendron/index.htm stewartia malacodendron<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This tree species is listed as [[endangered]] in the US states of Arkansas and Florida.<ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=STMA PLANTS Profile for Stewartia malacodendron (silky camellia) | USDA PLANTS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

'Silky camellia' has been [[cultivate]]d in the US since 1752, though it is not a common garden subject. Plants have a slow growth rate, are difficult to transplant and are a challenge to [[propagate]]. It grows best in partial shade in well draining soils.