Stewartia sinensis seeds

Description

A rare exquisite small tree. For a short time, new leaves emerge tinted red and distinctly hairy in early May. In June-July, branches are festooned with slightly fragrant white blooms with the yellow stamens.  The trunk bark is a beautiful rich cinnamon colour that peels in small paper like flakes creating a marbled pattern.  Fast growing. 7cm wide flowers are smaller than most Stewartia but the bloom is prolific and reliable.

• Seed Count: 12-15
• Collection Date: Oct 2019
• Hardiness Zone: 6-8
• Height and Width: 7m x 4m
• Germination test type: hand sort
• Family: Theaceae

How to germinate Stewartia sinensis seeds:

Soak for 24 hours. Seeds should swell. If seeds don’t swell, briefly & GENTLY scarify by rubbing seed with a small amount of sand between your palms. Use a plate to catch any fallen material. Resoak for 12 hours. Use a baggie of sterile moist medium or sow in a nursery pot and warm stratify 120 days at 15-18 C. Never let seed dry out. After the 120 days, the seed now needs to 90 days of cold stratification to complete the cycle. Expose to Spring like conditions of 20C for germination. Sow 4 mm deep, tamp soil and mulch helps retain moisture.