Appearance

Appearance

A slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree, usually 10–13 ft (3–4 m) tall and 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) wide in gardens.

Leaves

Glossy, dark green, leathery leaves about 2–4 in (5–11 cm) long.

Flowers

Garden flowers range from single to double and come in white, pink, or red. Many double blooms are 3–5 in (8–13 cm) wide.

Flowering time

In central North Carolina, japonica camellias usually bloom from December through March. Some cultivars start earlier or finish later.

Fruit

Its round, woody fruit contains several dark seeds.

Look-alikes

Sasanqua camelliaCamellia sasanqua

In central North Carolina, sasanqua usually blooms in fall, while Japanese camellia usually blooms from winter into early spring. Sasanqua also tends to have smaller leaves and flowers.

Why they get mixed up · Both are glossy evergreen garden camellias.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Gardens
• Parks
• Shaded yards

Range

Native to eastern Asia, it is grown in gardens across the U.S. South and is not native to the United States.

Flowering

Flowers Dec–Mar

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Flowers

Flowers Dec–Mar

Growing it

Care

Hardy in U.S. plant hardiness zones 7–9. Give it part shade, shelter from drying winter winds, and moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife

Its winter flowers attract pollinators and songbirds, and the dense evergreen foliage gives birds winter cover.

Parasites

• tea scaleFiorinia theae

  This scale insect has been recorded on Japanese camellias grown in the U.S. South.

Name and classification

About the name

Japanese varieties include the snow camellia (Camellia japonica var. rusticana) and a large-fruited island form (Camellia japonica var. macrocarpa).

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction