I’m always looking for new and interesting trees to add to the garden. I had read about the Japanese Stewartia, in Fine Gardening magazine. But the trees they write about are often hard to find. So when I did come across one in a local garden center, I purchased it.
![](https://willowparkpatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stewartia-3-683x1024.jpeg)
Then they happened to talk about it on the Fine Gardening Plant Podcast. It has summer camelia like blooms, turns to a lovely red fall colour, and has an interesting peeling bark as it ages. Sounds good to me.
I was hoping to get some blooms this first summer, and indeed I found 4 tiny little buds developing.
![](https://willowparkpatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stewartia-2-1024x683.jpeg)
![](https://willowparkpatch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stewartia-1-1024x683.jpeg)
I’m keeping it watered well, and checking for bugs or caterpillars, and so far, it seems pretty happy.