The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Ballet Japanese stewartia

Family: Theaceae (tea family)

Distribution: Species native to Japan

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: This Polly Hill selection is a much sought after, small, deciduous flowering tree with attractive bark. Grows in an upright to vase-shaped habit to 15-20' tall. The branches of this selection are more spreading than the typical form. Flowers are produces in June with beautiful 4" white blossoms. The flowers give way to dark reddish brown capsules. Bark on older wood turns gray-brown and mottled. Fall color can be a remarkable crimson-red to orange-red.