The genus name Stewartia is in honor of 16th century Scottish botanist, John Stuart.

[2] Tall stewartia is endemic to Japan and primarily grows in cool, montane temperate rainforest zones; specifically, south-central Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku islands.

[3] Its appearance varies from a sturdy shrub too a small tree with orange or cinnamon-brown colored bark.

[5] As the plant matures its form changes from a pyramidal crown to become more open with horizontal branches reaching outwards.

[5] The dark green leaves are elliptic and oblong in shape and have serrated edges, growing to approximately 2–4 in (51–102 mm) long, and turn red in the autumn.