Sturdy shrub to medium-high tree with a broad, pyramidal crown that eventually becomes oval. The smooth bark flakes off in thin, grey, orange- to purplish brown plates. This reveals the remarkable cinnamon-brown bark, creating a decorative picture. The twigs are bare; the dark green leaves are slightly hairy when they emerge. The edge of the leaves are very finely serrated. The tree turns especially lovely colours in the autumn: yellow-red to red-purple tints. The singular flowers, similar to those of Camellia, emerge at the leaf axils. Flowering sometimes lasts into August. The woody fruit capsules, measuring approx. 2 cm, appear following flowering. These burst open at the top in 5 segments containing the practically black seeds. Young plants can suffer damage during severe frost.
Stewartia pseudocamellia môže dorastať do výšky 8 - 12 (15) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Stewartia pseudocamellia rastie priemerne rastúci a môže dorastať do výšky 8 - 12 (15) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Listy stromu Stewartia pseudocamellia sa na jeseň sfarbia do žltá, oranžová, červená, fialová."
Správny čas na výsadbu stromu je mimo vegetačné obdobie. V strednej Európe môže byť Stewartia pseudocamellia so zemným balom vysadený od polovice novembra do konca apríla, avšak závisí to veľmi od klimatických podmienok a druhu stromu.