Can grow to 25m usually a single trunk, branches weeping and spreading. Adult leaflets 30-50, not crowded or overlapping, of similar size, with an obvious petiolule, moderately to sparcely hairy, hairs straight and appressed. Leaves >30mm, leaflet pairs >6. Juveniles divaricating and interlacing branching. Can be deciduous in a cold climate. To 7 Yellow flowers in a bunch in Spring attract tuis and bellbirds, pigeons feed on the leaves.

Seedlings from a selected bushy plant flowering from mid March through to early September, a mass of honey bees in June. A good screening plant.

Endemic to dry stoney Eastern South Island sites. A small dense bush to 2m tall, zig-zaggy branches 25mm long leaves, leaflets 4mm long, drooping orange-yellow flowers in spring, 5cm nobbly pods with hard brown to almost black seeds. Juveniles & adults similar. Useful for bonsai.

The Japanese Stewartia is a tree found in most Arboretums around the world due to it's ornamental peeling bark and camelia-like flowers. Added to this is the stunning red-orange autumn colours. As a forest dweller it's not a tree for an exposed position.