Sasanqua Camellia

Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua, Theaceae) is a slow-growing evergreen shrub from Japan (Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku) and China, typically reaching 6 to 10 feet tall with a pyramidal to oval-rounded, densely branched form. Alternate, simple leaves (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) are lustrous dark green. Mildly aromatic flowers, 5 to 7.5 centimeters in diameter with 6 to 8 petals, range from white to pale pink and open in fall to early winter, extending the landscape season beyond most flowering shrubs.

Sasanqua camellia grows in part shade to full sun on moist, well-drained, acidic soils high in organic matter (pH 4.5 to 7.0), hardy in Zones 7a to 8b. It tolerates full sun if soils stay moist and shows more drought tolerance and better Phytophthora resistance than C. japonica. Prune after flowering. Disease and pest profiles parallel Japanese camellia, with 12 disease and 6-plus pest associations documented. Cultivars include 'Yuletide' (Christmas-blooming), 'Setsugekka,' 'Kanjiro,' and 'Apple Blossom.' NC State documents 11-plus cultivars including numerous dwarf forms.