Stuartia

The genus Stuartia consists of a dozen lignified, shrubby and tree-like deciduous plants, popular for their beautiful autumn coloring. In summer, camellia-like white flowers bloom. By winter, red spectacular fruits are formed in their place. Peeling layers of bark often also make stuartia decorative, enhancing the winter appeal of the plant. Stuartia pseudocamellia is a 5-10 m tall tree. Green leaves of an oval-elliptical shape in autumn acquire a yellow-red color with transitions. White flowers with pronounced yellow stamens are up to 6-7 cm in diameter. Stuartia koreana (S. koreana) is a species that grows up to 13-14 m in height in natural conditions. Autumn foliage color is bright orange or bright orange-red. The bark is brown-red. Stuartia malacodendron (S. malacodendron) - large shrubs or trees. The shape of the leaves is ovate to obovate, the underside of the leaf plates is pubescent. White single flowers usually have purple stamens with bluish anthers. Stuartia ovate (S. ovata) is a shrub or tree 3-4 m high. The autumn color of the oval-shaped leaves turns yellow in autumn. The flowers are large (up to 10 cm in diameter) white-cream, with bright orange, very noticeable stamens. Stuartia chinensis (S. sinensis) is a shrub that grows up to 5-7 m in height. It has oval-oblong green leaves; bright red spots appear on them in autumn. The diameter of fragrant white flowers is up to 5 cm. The bark peels off in layers; it looks almost like metal.

The genus Stuartia consists of a dozen lignified, shrubby and tree-like deciduous plants, popular for their beautiful autumn coloring. In summer, camellia-like white flowers bloom. By winter, red spectacular fruits are formed in their place. Peeling layers of bark often also make stuartia decorative, enhancing the winter appeal of the plant.

Stuartia pseudocamellia is a 5-10 m tall tree. Green leaves of an oval-elliptical shape in autumn acquire a yellow-red color with transitions. White flowers with pronounced yellow stamens are up to 6-7 cm in diameter.

Stuartia koreana (S. koreana) is a species that grows up to 13-14 m in height in natural conditions. Autumn foliage color is bright orange or bright orange-red. The bark is brown-red.

Stuartia malacodendron (S. malacodendron) - large shrubs or trees. The shape of the leaves is ovate to obovate, the underside of the leaf plates is pubescent. White single flowers usually have purple stamens with bluish anthers.

Stuartia ovate (S. ovata) is a shrub or tree 3-4 m high. The autumn color of the oval-shaped leaves turns yellow in autumn. The flowers are large (up to 10 cm in diameter) white-cream, with bright orange, very noticeable stamens.

Stuartia chinensis (S. sinensis) is a shrub that grows up to 5-7 m in height. It has oval-oblong green leaves; bright red spots appear on them in autumn. The diameter of fragrant white flowers is up to 5 cm. The bark peels off in layers; it looks almost like metal.

Cultivation

Stuartia is grown in the open ground in gardens in single and group plantings as an ornamental crop. These are typically acidophilic plants. They are planted on a permanent planting site in early spring, in well-prepared acidic soil with good drainage. When filling the planting pit, you can add white peat (4-5 liters per pit) and sand. In the period from May to August, but only at an early stage of cultivation, every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 20-30 g per bucket. During the same growth period, it is mandatory to cut off unsightly growing branches. In the sequel they are limited to the usual sanitary pruning: only damaged branches, shoots and branches formed close to the base of the plant are removed.

Location

Plants of the genus Stuartia prefer partial shade.

Temperature

Stuartia successfully tolerates elevated air temperatures, and can withstand very low temperatures (up to -20 °C).

Watering

It is necessary only for young plants and during periods of prolonged drought.

Reproduction

Seeds are sown in boxes filled with a 1:1:1 mixture of disinfected earth, sand and peat. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are planted in pots, at the same time mineral fertilizer is applied at the rate of 30 g per bucket of soil. A year later, in autumn, they are planted in a protected corner of the garden, where they are left to develop further until the final transplant in 3-5 years. Propagation is also available by stem cuttings, which are placed in the summer in a mixture of agroperlite and peat. Pre-treatment with growth stimulants is performed. Planted cuttings are often sprayed to maintain a certain amount of moisture. humidity level. Root formation is completed in approximately 40 days. Not very successful, but also a possible method - reproduction layers in early autumn.

Diseases

Usually, plants of the genus Stuartia are resistant to diseases. Most of the problems arise from unsuitable, non-acidic soils, which leads to growth difficulties, accompanied by yellowing and chlorosis of the leaves. Sometimes the larvae gnaw the leaves. Produce treatment with special insecticides.

Acquisition

Plants of the genus Stuartia can be found in flower nurseries that specialize in growing acidophilic plants, and in horticultural centers.