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Sasanqua camellia

Camellia sasanqua, with common name sasanqua camellia, is a species of Camellia native to China and Japan. It is usually found growing up to an altitude of 900 metres.

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 5 m tall. The leaves are broad elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 1.2–3 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are 5–7 cm diameter, with 5–8 white to dark pink petals.

At the beginning of the Edo period, cultivars of Camellia sasanqua began appearing; the first record of the cultivars of this plant was made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733). In Japan, it is not considered to be a true Camellia as the Japanese call it Sazanka (サザンカ, 山茶花).

Camellia sasanqua is valued in gardens for its handsome glossy green foliage, and fragrant single flowers that can range in color from white to deep pink and are produced extremely early in the season. Various cultivars have been selected.

  • Category Flowering shrubs
  • Families Theaceae
  • Genus Camelia
  • Species sasanqua
  • Geographical Area of Origin Western Asia
  • Climatic Zones Temperate Central Italy, South Italy Highlands USDA 9 a
  • Habit Shrub
  • Leaves Evergreen
  • Colore Foglie Verde
  • Flowering Period January / September / October / November / December
  • Flower Double flower
  • Colore Fiori Viola   Rosa   Bianco   Rosso
  • Favorite soil Sub-acid / medium acid / Middle-Dough / Medium soil
  • Water needs Medium
  • Light Exposure Medium shade / Half shade / Full light / Full sun
  • Form Grown as shrub / bush
  • Colore Frutti Marrone   Viola
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