Camellia japonica

Japanese camellia

Theaceae

Overview

Camellia japonica is a magnificent broadleaf evergreen shrub that epitomizes the rich horticultural heritage of Pacific Northwest gardens, where it has been cultivated since the earliest European settlements in the region. This aristocratic plant brings exceptional ornamental value with its glossy, deep green foliage providing year-round structure and its exquisite, often formal blooms offering dramatic late winter to spring color when few other shrubs are flowering. Particularly well-suited to the acidic soils and moderate climate of western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Japanese camellias have become signature plants in both historic and contemporary landscapes throughout the region. Their ability to thrive in the dappled shade beneath the region's massive conifers while tolerating the cool, wet winters makes them indispensable components of Pacific Northwest garden design, providing a perfect evergreen framework for woodland and shade gardens throughout the maritime Northwest.

How to Identify

Camellia japonica can be identified by its glossy, leathery, elliptical to oval leaves with finely serrated margins and a distinctly pointed tip. The foliage is arranged alternately along the stems and displays a characteristic deep green upper surface with a somewhat lighter underside. Mature leaves typically measure 3-4 inches long with a thick, almost waxy texture. Unlike Camellia sasanqua, C. japonica has larger, showier flowers that appear primarily in late winter to spring rather than fall. The blooms are typically more formal in appearance, often featuring complex forms with many petals depending on cultivar. Flower size ranges from 2-5 inches across, substantially larger than those of C. sasanqua. The overall growth habit is more upright and less willowy than C. sasanqua, with denser branching and a more formal structure.