Stewartia malacodendron

Stewartia malacodendron, the silky camellia, silky stewartia or Virginia stewartia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Theaceae. It grows slowly into a large deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 3–4.5 m (10–15 ft) tall, but sometimes as tall as 9 m (30 ft). It is native to the southeastern United States.

The Latin specific epithet malacodendron literally means "soft tree". Its common name "silky camellia" alludes to the appearance and texture of the flowers, which resemble those of the related camellias.