Stewartia × henryae Li

Stewartia × henryae can display excellent Autumn colours, here at Arboretum Wespelaar in late October 2015 (Acc. ID 04299). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

The bark of Stewartia × henryae is intermediary between that of the parents, Jane Platt Garden, Oregon, USA, March 2002. Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Stewartia × henryae has rounded flower buds with clearly detached bracteoles, Arboretum Wespelaar (Acc. ID 98051), 13 June 2004. Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

The same plant (Acc. ID 98051) at Arboretum Wespelaar on 2 July 2004. Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Flowers of Stewartia × henryae are slightly smaller than in S. pseudocamellia, here seen at Les Mourgues, Var, France in June 2013 (Acc. ID LM 290). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

'Skyrocket'

Most clones of S. × henryae fall short of equalling S. pseudocamellia but this selection from Polly Hill Arboretum is highly regarded for its fastigiate habit, free-flowering with abundant smallish flowers (3.5 cm diameter) and good red autumn colour (Hsu et al. 2008, PlantLust.com accessed 16 July). It was a seedling from commercial seed sown in 1959, planted out in 1963 and first flowering in 1969. By 1991, it was 9–10 × 3–4 m, forming a narrow vase-shaped tree on a richly coloured trunk (Polly Hill Arboretum). Although Hsu, Boland & Camelbeke (2008) state that is difficult to propagate, it was available from several US nurseries in 2016, and it is cultivated at Arboretum Wespelaar.

The original 'Skyrocket', at the Polly Hill Arboretum, was selected for its fastigiate habit, making it a good plant for small spaces, October 2001. Image Philippe de Spoelberch.