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sam_md

Silky Camellia aka Stewartia malacodendron

sam_md
2 years ago

Hi everyone, it's June and time again to show off my baby, The Silky Camellia. This one I rooted from a cutting but they can also be grown from seed. Although this one's native range extends only to Accomack County VA, it does great at my home in Maryland under high shade.

Notice the size of flowers, the abundance of flowers, also flowers are not obscured by foliage. The fall color of foliage is muted yellow on this shrub.

Show me an Asian stewartia which is this showy, you can't do it.




The Bartram's catalogue carried this plant in 1783. Below see Audubon's illustration from early 1800's. Why is it that these men knew about Silky Camellia but no one knows about it today? Forget the Asian stewartias, you pass by and don't even know they're in bloom. By all means seek out native Stewartias, Hard to find but well worth it.



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