Stewartia is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8 and shrugs off deer. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
5-8
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Stewartia on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether stewartia actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score stewartia against your land's real conditions.
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What Stewartia is
Stewartia grows as a perennial and reaches around 30 feet at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Stewartia
Stewartia grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. Stewartia does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 160 frost-free days and about 400 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
30 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
400+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
160+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set stewartia in part sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Stewartia prefers pH 5 to 7 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — stewartia isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Stewartia offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Stewartia thrives
Stewartia is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–8·Where Stewartia growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Stewartia can grow in these states:
See if Stewartia will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether stewartia actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Stewartia in my zone?
Stewartia grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Stewartia?
Set stewartia out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Stewartia need?
Stewartia does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Stewartia need?
Stewartia prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Stewartia attract pollinators?
Yes — stewartia's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Stewartia safe for pets?
Stewartia is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)