Thea Japonica Camellia japonica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-MEE-lee-ah jah-PON-ih-kah
- Description
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The Japanese camellia is an evergreen woody tree or shrub in the Theaceae or tea family. Native to China, Korea and parts of Japan, it has become a southern gardening favorite. The word camellia is derived from Georg Josef Kamel (1706), a Jesuit missionary and naturalist who introduced Philippine flora to Europe. The Latin name for Kamel is Camellus.
Camellia prefers shade to part-shade with some protection from drying winter winds and well-drained soils that are high in organic matter and slightly acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.5). They are slow to grow and slow to establish but are long-lived plants. Because plants are slow to establish, it is best to dig a large hole, three to four times wider, but not deeper, than the root ball, to reduce competition for water and nutrients from surrounding trees and shrubs.
Excess sun, cold, or shade can reduce flowering. Yellow leaves may mean too little acidity in the soil. Some flower bud dropping may be natural, but sometimes may be caused by over-watering or under-watering. Limit pruning to removal of dead or damaged wood, unproductive branches, and disproportionately long shoots. Prune immediately after flowering or in early summer. Pruning later in the year may sacrifice next year’s blooms. Propagate camellia by stem cuttings.
Camellia attracts pollinators and songbirds and is at home in an Asian garden, children’s garden, edible garden, or pollinator garden. Bloom color ranges from white to all shades of pink and red. The flower size ranges from a 2-inch diameter up to 5 inches. Depending upon the variety, flowering may start as early as October and finish as late as mid-March. The flowers on each plant will usually last three to four weeks.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are 2 to 3 inches long.
- Leaves are glossy, leathery.
- Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, serrate
- Flowers axillary, giant (usually are double)
- Flowers late winter to early spring (February to April)
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Camellia flower blight, caused by the fungus Ciborinia camelliae.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Cottage Style Foundation Planting Water Feature Woodland Walk Lush Foundation Planting Hydrangeas in the Garden Collector’s Garden Hydrangeas in the Garden Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Adolphe Audusson Special'
Large red blooms heavily variegated with white; semi-double form; compact growth - 'Black Tie'
Dark red flower; formal double form; dense upright growth - 'Crimson Candles'
- 'Grace Albritton'
Variable color white, pink, red flowers; formal double form - 'Higo Ohkan'
Medium sized white flower with rose red border; single form - 'Jacks'
- ‘Jack’s Pink’
- 'Lady Laura'
Medium to large pink variegated rose flower; peony to rose, double to formal double form - 'Magic City'
Medium fire red variegated white flowers; peony form - 'Morning Glow'
Medium white flower; formal double form - 'Otome'
Light shell pink, vigorus
- 'Adolphe Audusson Special'
- 'Adolphe Audusson Special', 'Black Tie', 'Crimson Candles', 'Grace Albritton', 'Higo Ohkan', 'Jacks', ‘Jack’s Pink’, 'Lady Laura', 'Magic City', 'Morning Glow', 'Otome'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Adolphe Audusson Special'
Large red blooms heavily variegated with white; semi-double form; compact growth - 'Black Tie'
Dark red flower; formal double form; dense upright growth - 'Crimson Candles'
- 'Grace Albritton'
Variable color white, pink, red flowers; formal double form - 'Higo Ohkan'
Medium sized white flower with rose red border; single form - 'Jacks'
- ‘Jack’s Pink’
- 'Lady Laura'
Medium to large pink variegated rose flower; peony to rose, double to formal double form - 'Magic City'
Medium fire red variegated white flowers; peony form - 'Morning Glow'
Medium white flower; formal double form - 'Otome'
Light shell pink, vigorus
- 'Adolphe Audusson Special'
- 'Adolphe Audusson Special', 'Black Tie', 'Crimson Candles', 'Grace Albritton', 'Higo Ohkan', 'Jacks', ‘Jack’s Pink’, 'Lady Laura', 'Magic City', 'Morning Glow', 'Otome'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Camellia
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Theaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China , Korea, Central & Southern Jap
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators and provides cover for wintering birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- slightly salt tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A woody capsule up to 1" in length.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 3-5 in. semi-double to double flowers in late winter or early spring are white, pink, red, rose, variegated.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, lustrous, leathery, dark green leaves are 2-4 in. long. They are ovate to elliptic with serrated margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- C-shaped, Cresent shaped
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Dark brown, covered with blackish lenticels, leaf scars crescent-shaped.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
