Stewartia serrata
Common name: 
Sawtooth Stewartia
Pronunciation: 
stu-AR-ti-a sair-AY-tuh
Family: 
Theaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Large shrub or small tree to 30 ft (10 m) tall, has horizontal branches and smooth, reddish-brown, mottled bark.  Shoots are tinted red and are slight hairy when young.  Leaves simple, alternate, 5-8 cm long, elliptic to obovate, apex acute, base wedge-shaped, margin serrate, downy pubescence below on vein axils and midrib. Flowers appear in late spring or early summer, they are solitary, cup-shaped, 5-6 cm diameter, cream petals, flushed with red on the outer surfaces near the base, anthers yellow.  Fruit is ovoid, 2 cm, woody, beaked.
  • Partial shade, protect from late afternoon sun on hot days, best in moist soil
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 7       Native to southern Japan; found in the mountainous regions of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu Islands.
  • serrata: serrated, the leaves (but not all) 
  • Oregon State Univ. campus:  NW corner Milne Computer Center
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, young tree

    plant habit, young tree

  • foliage

    foliage

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • flower bud development

    flower bud development

  • flower with red spot

    flower with red spot

  • flower

    flower

  • developing fruit

    developing fruit

  • dormant twigs and buds

    dormant twigs and buds