Silky Camellia is also known as Virginia Stewartia and Round-fruit Stewartia. This is a shrub or small tree with large purple-centered, white or yellow flowers (white only in the Escambia region). The flowers are large, cup-shaped, five rounded petals with wavy edges, and numerous purple stamens. Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer in a preferred habitat of moist soil, stream banks, and the understory of hardwood forests. In Alabama the shrub is locally abundant along Murder Creek in Escambia County.

This genus is closely related to the evergreen camellias. It honors John Stuart, Earl of Bute, 1713-1792. The species name (malacodendron) is Greek for "soft tree," referring to the silky hairs covering the lower leaf surface.

This species is often said to be the Alabama state flower, which is in error. The state flower of Alabama is the Common Camellia.