Hi Candace! I have two stewartia in my yard, and they are beautiful trees. One is about 30-40 ft tall, and the other is a bit smaller, and they are lovely all year. Their bark is very pretty- sometimes it even looks irridescent, where a new layer has just been exposed, and then in summer (Juneish), it is just covered with large white flowers with yellow centers. It is stunning when it's blooming- the only thing, though, is that the fallen flowers really pile up and irk my DH! It is in a kind of protected spot, and gets quite a lot of shade. They were here when we bought the house, so I don't know how hard it is to get them to take, but it's a lovely tree! Hope this helps- if you'd like, I can take a close-up snap of the bark too. The first photo was taken in mid May, and the second in mid July.
-Lexi

I've got a styrax japonica that I planted at least 15 years ago in part shade. It's a wonderful small tree. I once read that its roots are aggressive, and that nothing will grow near it, but have not noticed that at all. I picked it up at a local fund-raising plant sale when it was about 3' tall and, because I planted it in the root zone of an old silver maple, it took a while to get anywhere, but grew slowly and steadily. Now that the maple is history, I expect great things from the styrax, but even near the maple it bloomed pretty well. Its foliage is always clean and lovely, and the flowers are very nice.

My stewartia is just 1 (maybe 2) yeara old, and is about 4' tall. It's in full sun, so I need to be sure it doesn't dry out during the growing season. Even at this young age it blooms! There have been many discussions about it on the trees forum, did you use the search feature there?

I highly recommend both of these trees. They might be considered mildly challenging in comparison to some trees, but not to any trees that you'd actually treasure.

I highly recommend them both!

Hello. I am in metrowest Boston and I have a Korean Stewartia x 3 years in my front yard. Still small -- only about 7-8 feet? But beautiful bark year round and nice flowers in summer. I pretty much ignore it year round and it doesn't seem to mind. I believe the Japanese Stewartia has better fall color, but is harder to find. The Arnold Arboretum has an absolutely beautiful, incredible stewartia just outside the Hunnewell Center. You should visit it! I am sure it gets no supplemental water -- tho it is quite well established......
Good luck.
C

Thank you all for the inforamation.

The only concern that I have is that my yard is very sunny and hot in the summer. I recall reading that neither would do well with excessive heat- but I am only a zone 6.

I will have to keep an eye open for these two and see what I can find. I have so many trees I want to plant and only so much yard. It is tough to make a decision.

Thank you all again--Candace

Don't get either of these if you are actually interested in something else! Instead, go looking, with a description of the approximate mature size you want, the site conditions, and a good tree reference book.

If you realy do want one of these, they are petty readily available around here (Cape Cod; Both have been seen at Pondscapes in Cataumet) and you could certainly get either at Sylvan Nursery, Westport.

Last time I needed something obscure, I asked my local nursery and they got it from me. The local guys are just buying from the wholesalers, and they are usually quite happy to know what their customers want.

It is nice to get something different. This area is so over-planted with flowering pear, cherry & some sort of pink/white magnolia. I simply donÂt want what everyone else has. All of the nurseries carry the same things, but will order what ever you request.

I have been looking for trees below 30'h for the south end of the yard and 30Â+ for the north end. Planning has been done to allow for mature size. It would be nice to know how big some plants get is 5 years, then again at 10 years. I know that I will not be living here for 20 years so I will never see them mature. But it is the journey of the design that I enjoy so much.

I am always open to suggestionsÂ..

Well, Candace, I have a styrax but I can't really be of any help. I just got it last year from a fellow New England forummer, and hadn't even heard of it till he gave me a seedling.

I've also been looking to get some smaller trees for the south side of my property. My neighbor to that side took down many trees, so my shade garden is now much sunnier. On the other hand, at the other end of the boundary, I have two large oaks I will be removing in the next month to make more sun for my vegetable garden. I do want something along the boundary line though, and also need to shade my shade garden, lol, so I am looking into smaller trees. My area is not overly planted with ornamental trees, being a quite woodsy, natural area, as opposed to a suburban landscaped area, so I may try a boring old dogwood and perhaps a magnolia.

Good luck with your decision. Sorry I couldn't be or more help.

:)
Dee