Camelia sasanqua

S. Japan; 4,5 - 5m
Planting position: Semi-shade, with no late afternoon sun. Ideal for mountainous regions with high rainfall. Not for hot and humid subtropical regions.
Requires thorough watering, soaking rather than regular light watering. Well-draining soil, always moist. Keep the plant well mulched, but not directly around the stem, ensuring cool, moist roots. Careful handling of the root ball when planting. Regular applications of complete fertiliser. Disbudding for better flowering. Light shape pruning but harder on older bushes. Watch out for scale insects, caterpillars and red spider mites.
Propagate from spring cuttings, seed or from grafting.

This autumn flowering small tree has small, leathery foliage and is sometimes heavily perfumed.
‘Bonanza’ has large and dark oxblood red flowers on its arching branches.
‘Exquisite’ with large and single, soft pink flowering.
‘Fuji-No-Mine’ with medium-large, double to peony, white flowers.
‘Lucinda’ has large, peony, pink flowers.
‘Marie Young’ has ice cream pink flowers of single to peony form.
‘Narumi-Gata’ is stunning with large, single flowers, pinkly edged white petals and cup-shaped.
‘Sparkling Burgundy’ has medium peony flowers in deep rose-pink colouring.
‘Weroona’ flowers earlier with single - semi-double, large blooms in white “bleeding” pink.
C. sinensis (12m) produces single white flowers.