Stewartia are shrubs and trees, mostly deciduous, though some species are evergreen. The Asian species include both shrubs and trees, growing to 3 to 20 m tall, while the American species are shrubs growing 3 to 5 m tall, rarely becoming small trees. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, serrated, usually glossy, and. The flowers are large and conspicuous, with 5 (occasionally 6-8) white petals. The fruit is a dry five-valved capsule, with one to four seeds in each section. Most of the species are native to eastern Asia in China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, with two in southeast North America, from Virginia and Kentucky south to Florida and Louisiana.