Stewartia rostrata comes from the forests and stream edges of south-central and southeastern China, and its species name, from the Latin for beaked or hooked, tells you exactly what to look for. The small woody capsule fruits that ripen in September split into five segments and carry a distinctive elongated beak, coloring red to brownish as they mature. They follow white flowers, sometimes flushed pink, with golden stamens that bloom from May into July, a display with the quiet elegance characteristic of the Stewartia genus.

The shrub or small tree grows 13 to 33 feet tall with a pyramidal crown that broadens over time, and the grayish-brown bark, unlike some of its relatives, does not peel but develops furrows and ridges instead. Dark green foliage turns red in fall. It prefers fertile, moist, acidic soil in partial or filtered shade and will not tolerate drought or strong winds. Best suited to Zones 6 to 7, it works well in cottage gardens, woodland settings, or courtyard plantings where it can be sheltered and appreciated at close range. Division and transplanting should be done sparingly; this species resents disturbance.