Sasanqua Camellia Camellia sasanqua
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-MEE-lee-ah sah-SAN-kwah
- Description
-
As glorious as Camellia japonica is in the spring, it is just one of many spring-flowering trees and shrubs. Sasanqua camellias are a drought tolerant fall blooming shrub with open airy habits that work well as an accent plant, hedge, or tall foundation planting. Pruned up it makes for a good "small tree" form. There are numerous cultivars available, including dwarf forms. Does well in containers and container plants can be overwintered indoors in greenhouses or cool but bright sunrooms to protect from frost. Mulch plants well to protect roots and shelter it from hot afternoon sun, dry winds and cold. Established, plants may be okay in the full sun if their roots are well shaded by leaves. This plant is slightly salt tolerant.
The true camellia stars are those that flower during the winter when gardeners are starved for bright colors in the landscape. One of the brightest of those stars is Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide.’ This December-flowering camellia features large, bright-red, single blooms with contrasting yellow stamens that give an eye-catching focus to the winter landscape. It is the state flower of Alabama. Its glossy green foliage offers the perfect backdrop for its spectacular display. ‘Yuletide’ has an erect, compact growth habit with dense foliage that lends itself well for use as a loose hedge plant or as a focal shrub. As with other sasanquas, ‘Yuletide’ tolerates drought after it becomes established. Consider its ultimate height of 14 feet and slow growth rate before deciding on an appropriate planting location. It prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 for best growth. It can withstand the sun but does need protection from drying winter winds. One of the most popular winter-flowering shrubs, ‘Yuletide’ makes a great addition to any southern garden.This plant can survive 100-200 years in the wild.
Another good choice for winter color is Camellia x ‘Crimson Candles.’ This rapidly-growing hybrid stands out with numerous small, rose-red, single flowers in February and March. The new foliage is bronze-red, and the plant is vigorous and disease-resistant. One of its best features is its sepals, which are red throughout the winter while the buds are maturing. This gives the bud the look of a red candle long before the flowers open, hence the name, ‘Crimson Candles.’ Suited for hedges, espalier, topiary or bonsai, this cultivar can also withstand night temperatures in the 20s.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Camellias are susceptible to a number of fungal diseases including leaf spots, anthracnose, viruses, black mold, petal blight, canker, and root rot. If petal blight occurs (browning that runs from edges to the center), all infected plant parts should be promptly removed. They are intolerant of alkaline soils. Yellow leaves with green veins may indicate chlorosis which can be treated by adding iron chelates to the soil. Scale can be a troublesome insect pest. Aphids, planthoppers, and spider mites may also cause problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves1-3" long
- Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, crenate
- Flowers axillary 2-3" across (white - pink)
- Flowers late fall-winter, usually non-double
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Courtyard Entrance Garden Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carolina Moonmist'
- ‘Cleopatra’
Medium bluish pink flower; semi-double form - 'Crimson Candles'
Rose-red flowers, single form; bronze foliage, disease resistant - 'Daydream'
White flowers; rapid upright growth; good for hedges - 'Fall Fantasy'
- 'Green's Blues'
- 'Kanjiro'
Double, hot pink - 'Leslie Ann'
Large white and pink flower; fall/winter bloom - 'Otome'
Medium pink flower; semi-double to peony form; fall/winter bloom - ‘Pink Snow’
Produces light pink flowers - 'Showa No Sakae'
Small to medium light pink flower; peony form; early fall bloom - 'Yuletide'
Large, bright-red single blooms; fall/winter bloom
- 'Carolina Moonmist'
- 'Carolina Moonmist', ‘Cleopatra’, 'Crimson Candles', 'Daydream', 'Fall Fantasy', 'Green's Blues', 'Kanjiro', 'Leslie Ann', 'Otome', ‘Pink Snow’, 'Showa No Sakae', 'Yuletide'
- Tags:









































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carolina Moonmist'
- ‘Cleopatra’
Medium bluish pink flower; semi-double form - 'Crimson Candles'
Rose-red flowers, single form; bronze foliage, disease resistant - 'Daydream'
White flowers; rapid upright growth; good for hedges - 'Fall Fantasy'
- 'Green's Blues'
- 'Kanjiro'
Double, hot pink - 'Leslie Ann'
Large white and pink flower; fall/winter bloom - 'Otome'
Medium pink flower; semi-double to peony form; fall/winter bloom - ‘Pink Snow’
Produces light pink flowers - 'Showa No Sakae'
Small to medium light pink flower; peony form; early fall bloom - 'Yuletide'
Large, bright-red single blooms; fall/winter bloom
- 'Carolina Moonmist'
- 'Carolina Moonmist', ‘Cleopatra’, 'Crimson Candles', 'Daydream', 'Fall Fantasy', 'Green's Blues', 'Kanjiro', 'Leslie Ann', 'Otome', ‘Pink Snow’, 'Showa No Sakae', 'Yuletide'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Camellia
- Species:
- sasanqua
- Family:
- Theaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought tolerant, slightly salt tolerant, slightly deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Open
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A loculicidal woody capsule, 1".
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2-3 in. single or double white, pink or red fragrant flowers from September to December. Solitary (rarely 2 or 3 together), white, pink, red and color combinations thereof, usually singles, in axils petals are ruffly and fluted, with central yellow stamens. Flowers last only a few days before dropping so they do not make good cut flowers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, lustrous, dark green leaves new growth sometimes emerges bronze; 1.5-3 in. long. Ovate to elliptical, crenate, acute apex.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, often reddish to purplish when young.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems