Camellia (Camellia japonica) – Flowering plants

Camellia (Camellia japonica) is a flowering shrub or tree. It can grow up to 6 – 12 m tall. The youngest branches are purplish-brown colored, getting to be grayish-brown as they age. The alternately arranged leathery leaves are dark green on the top side, paler on the underside. The base of the leaf is pointed, the edges are very finely toothed and the tip somewhat pointed.

Flower buds begin to form in mid-summer. Buds appear in clusters. Removing all but one bud per cluster will increase flower size. Blossoms sprout in December to March when grown outdoors in warm winter climates or in greenhouses, but bloom in early spring when grown outdoors in the northern part of its growing range. Every single bloom has 5-8 petals. Flower colors are most commonly white, pink or red with yellow anthers. Blooms are borne at the tips of shoots or from lower leaf axils.

The fruit consists of a globe-shaped capsule with three compartments, each with one or two large brown seeds with a diameter of 1 – 2 cm. Fruiting occurs from September to October in the wild.

Edible Uses:

Edible oil is obtained from the seed. It is called ‘Tsubaki oil’. Dried blooms – cooked. Utilized as a vegetable or blended with gelatinous rice to make a Japanese food called ‘mochi’. The leaves are a tea substitute.

Scientific classification:

Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
Species: C. japonica

Scientific Name: Camellia japonica
Common Names: Camellia, Japanese camellia, Rose of Winter or Tsubaki.

How to grow and maintain Camellia (Camellia japonica):

Light:
It thrives best in bright indirect light. Some cool, direct morning sunlight is fine.

Soil:
It grows best light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable for acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.

Water:
Water thoroughly, keep the soil evenly moist, especially when a plant is budding and flowering. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

Temperature:
It prefers cool temperature 45°F – 60°F / 7°C – 16°C. Make your flowers last longer by keeping the plant in a slightly cooler location. Blooms will last for weeks if kept at a maximum of 60°F/16°C.

Humidity:
It requires high humidity. Mist foliage regularly and stand camellia plant on a tray of wet pebbles. Use a room humidifier in winter, if needed.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every 2 weeks, beginning with the first show of flower buds till the end of flowering. Use a high-potassium fertilizer that contains iron, diluted by half.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by cuttings. Take 10 cm stem tip cuttings in winter and root in moist potting mix.

Pests and Diseases:
Camellias are susceptible to a number of fungal diseases including leaf spots, black mold, flower blight, canker, and root rot. Aphids, thrips, mealybugs, and mites may appear. The scale can be a troublesome insect pest.