Stewartia malacodendron L.

Shrubs or trees, crown rounded. Stems smooth; young twigs reddish brown, bark flaking in longitudinal strips. Winter bud scales 2, not enclosed by petiole wings, compressed, 5-9 mm, densely silvery-pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2-4(-5) mm, wing 0.1-1 mm wide; blade elliptic to oblong-elliptic, (2.5-)7-12 × (1.1-)4-6 cm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins serrulate, apex acute, abaxial surface pubescent, primary veins in 7-8 pairs. Inflorescence bracts 2, 2-4 mm. Pedicels 0.2-0.4(-0.5) cm × 1 mm. Flowers (5-)7-10(-12) cm diam.; sepals suborbiculate, 7-9 × 5-9 mm; petals 5, white, margins crenulate to erose, abaxial surface silky; stamens 50-100(-125); filaments purple, free portion 5-10 mm; anthers bluish; style 1; stigma 5-lobed. Capsules subglobose, 1.2-1.6 × 1.2-1.8 cm, apex round to conic, pubescent. Seeds brown, unwinged, lenticular to angular, 5-7 × 3.5-4.5 mm, lustrous. 2n = 30.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.