Camellia sasanqua Thunb.
A familiar species of slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy dark green foliage with serrated edges. It produces lightly fragranced, single white flowers in the wild and pale pink to dark rose-pink in cultivated varieties, some double, from autumn through to early spring
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | White Pink | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical 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
Correct
- Plant range
- Japan (Okinawa)
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows best in acid soils (pH5.5 to 6.5). Position in a sheltered site as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds. Will thrive in full sun once established. 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
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and vine weevil
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus, phytophthora root rot, camellia gall, camellia leaf blight and camellia yellow mottle virus
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