Appearance

Growth form

This evergreen shrub stays relatively compact compared with many Japanese camellias.

Leaves

The leaves are dark green and glossy, with gently toothed edges.

Flowers

Garden selections often have layered pink to red flowers.

Flowering time

In Florida, snow camellias and other sasanqua-type camellias bloom mainly from October through December.

Look-alikes

Sasanqua camelliaCamellia sasanqua

Their fall and winter flowers overlap, and cultivated plants vary a lot. A flower photo alone may not settle the name; check the plant label and photograph leaves and the whole shrub.

Japanese camelliaCamellia japonica

Japanese camellia is often taller, while C. hiemalis selections tend to stay compact. Garden cultivars overlap, so size alone is a clue rather than proof.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• gardens
• shaded borders

Range

In the U.S., cultivated snow camellias are grown in gardens and collections.

Flowering

Flowers Oct–Dec

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Flowers

Flowers Oct–Dec

Name and classification

About the name

Cultivated snow camellias (Camellia × hiemalis) may be selections of sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) or descendants of crosses with Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica). The name without × can also refer to a wild species in Zhejiang, China.

Varieties and forms

Cultivated selections include 'Shishigashira', 'Kanjiro', and 'Showa'.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed