Stewartia Cultivar Registration

Sometimes a plant specimen is an exceptional outlier within its species; perhaps it has flowers significantly larger than the norm, a unique color to its leaves, or an atypical growth habit. When these special characteristics remain stable throughout its growth and propagation, it may be deemed worthy of cultivar status. Cultivar names are officially registered to provide consistency and reliability, thereby preventing confusion in the nursery trade and horticultural field in general. 

In 2016, Polly Hill Arboretum was designated by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) as the international cultivar registration authority (ICRA) for the genus Stewartia. If you believe you have an exceptional Stewartia specimen which has proven to be stable and can be effectively propagated for distribution, please submit an application by clicking on the registration form below.