Stewartia ovata (Mountain Camellia; also Stuartia ovata) is a species of Stewartia native to low to mid-elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains. A relative of the evergreen Camellias of Asia, other common names include summer dogwood and Mountain Stewartia.

It is a deciduous flowering shrub or small tree growing to 5 m tall, with smooth, flaking grayish-orange bark. The leaves are oval with an acute apex, 7-13 cm long and 3-6 cm broad, and turn orange, red, or gold when the tree becomes dormant in the fall. The flowers are camellia-like, 6-12 cm diameter, with five white petals and numerous white, yellow or purple stamens; they appear in early to mid-summer.

There are two varieties:

• Stewartia ovata var. ovata. Flowers 6-8 cm diameter, stamens white to yellow.
• Stewartia ovata var. grandiflora (W.J.Bean) Weatherby. Flowers up to 12 cm diameter, stamens purple.

Although not endangered, the plant does have a limited range and is considered to be rare. Mountain Camellia grows in the understory of predominately hardwood forests and tends to be found near streams, usually at elevations below 800 m (2,500 feet).

References

• Mountain Camellia profile on TreeTrail.net
• USDA information
• NatureServe profile