Camellia japonica 'Hakutaka' (Higo)

RHS Plant Profile
camellia 'Hakutaka'

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camellia 'Hakutaka' RHS / Joanna Kossak
Shrubs

A large, bushy, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves. Pure white, single, saucer-shaped flowers, with a golden flare of stamens, are produced in spring

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Theaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Camellia are evergreen shrubs with simple, ovate, glossy, leathery leaves and showy flowers with solitary or clustered flowers early in the year
Name Status
Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

Camellia in this higo group originate from the Higo province of Japan and have distinctive pink, red or white flowers, sometimes with streaks or blotches, with a sunburst-shaped cluster of golden yellow stamens in the centre of each flower. The petals are scarce and flat

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers a humus-rich, acid or neutral soil and shelter from cold, dry winds and early morning sun which can damage buds and flowers. See camellia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, cushion scale and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, Phytophthora root rot, camellia gall, camellia leaf blight, camellia yellow mottle virus and camellia petal blight