Sasanqua camellia is an evergreen shrub grown in warmer parts of the United States, with fragrant flowers from late fall into winter. The leaves are usually smaller than those of Japanese camellia, and the petals fall separately. Sasanqua camellia grows in sun or partial shade and is used for hedges and borders.

Appearance

Appearance
This shrub usually grows 6–14 ft (1.8–4.3 m) tall and 5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m) wide, with glossy, leathery leaves 1–3 in (2.5–7.6 cm) long.
Flowers
Fragrant flowers are usually 2–3 in (5–7.6 cm) wide and may be white, pink, red, or patterned. Cultivars range from single to double forms.
Flowering time
In U.S. gardens it generally blooms from late fall into winter, often for four to six weeks.
Fruit
The fruit is a woody about 1 in (2.5 cm) long.

Look-alikes

Japanese camelliaCamellia japonica

Japanese camellia usually has larger leaves and blooms later in winter or early spring. Sasanqua camellia usually has smaller leaves and flowers in fall to early winter; its petals scatter separately.

Why they get mixed upBoth are glossy evergreen shrubs with white, pink, or red camellia flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • garden borders
  • privacy hedges
  • woodland-edge plantings
Range
It is native to southern Japan and the Nansei Islands, not the United States. It is widely cultivated in warm-temperate U.S. landscapes, especially in 7a–9b.
Preferred conditions
Plant it in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, neutral-to-acidic soil. Shelter it from harsh afternoon sun, winter wind, and severe cold.

Growing it

Care
It works well as a specimen, hedge, screen, or foundation shrub. Prune soon after flowering because the next flower buds form on older growth.
Propagation
Garden plants are commonly propagated by stem cuttings.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms
Many named cultivars are available, including compact selections and plants with single, , or double flowers in white, pink, red, and mixed colors.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
13 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API — Camellia sasanqua
  2. Plants of the World Online — Camellia sasanqua
  3. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Camellia sasanqua
  4. 국립수목원 국가표준재배식물목록집 — Camellia sasanqua 품종
  5. 筑波実験植物園 植物図鑑 — サザンカ
  6. 国立科学博物館 琉球の植物データベース — サザンカ
  7. IUCN Red List — Camellia sasanqua
  8. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Camellia japonica
  9. 국가생물다양성 정보공유체계 — 애기동백
  10. 울산들꽃학습원 — 애기동백
  11. 농촌진흥청 — 사잔카와 동백 비교
  12. University of Arkansas Extension — Japanese Camellia
  13. International Camellia Register — Camellia sasanqua IUCN assessment
sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo