Camellia, Sasanqua camellia
Camellia sasanqua

Family: Theaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Lavender, Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Early winter, Late fall, Late winter, Mid fall, Mid spring, Mid winter. Form: Oval.

Camellia sasanqua is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from October to April. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Thickets and grassy slopes in mountains, S. Japan. Forest openings.

E. Asia - Southern Japan in Kyushu and the Islands southwards.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pacific, SE Asia, Tasmania, USA, Vietnam,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

The oil obtained from the seed is edible if it is refined. It is said to be equal in quality to olive oil. The leaves are mixed with tea to give it a pleasant aroma.

Oil: Oil

Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Demulcent, expectorant.

Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.

Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.

Other

Rating: 4

A non-drying oil is obtained from the seed - used as a hair-dressing and textile oil. A green dye is obtained from the pink or red petals. A decoction of the plant (could this refer to the oil in the seed??) is used as a soap substitute for washing oily clothes. Plants can be used as a hedge. The cultivar 'Onigoromo' has been especially mentioned for this purpose.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Soap: Plants used directly as a soap substitute.

Espalier: A tree or other plant that is trained to grow flat against a support (such as a trellis or wall).

Hedge: Hedge

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Espalier, Standard, Specimen. Prefers a woodland soil but thrives in a warm open well-drained loam if leafmould is added. A calcifuge plant, preferring a pH between 5 and 7. Dislikes cold winds. Prefers the partial shade of a light woodland, growing well in a woodland clearing. Many cultivars tolerate full sun, in fact one report says that the species flowers better in a sunny position and another that the plant prefers a hot sunny position. Plants are hardy to about -10°c. Another report says that this species is very cold hardy if it is sheltered from cold winds. Prefers a wet summer and a cool but not very frosty dry winter. Another report says that the plant requires hot summers if it is to do well. Plants are not very self-compatible, self-fertilized flowers produce few seeds and these are of low viability. A very ornamental plant, it is closely allied to C. oleifera. The cultivar 'Narumi-gata' (which is sometimes mistakenly called C. oleifera) is a very reliable shrub in Britain. Plants resent root disturbance and are best planted out into their final positions whilst still young. This species is cultivated in Asia for the oil in its seed, there are many named varieties mostly developed for their ornamental value. The flowers have a delicate sweet perfume. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above, Fragrant flowers, Blooms are very showy.

Propagating it: Seed - can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water and the hard covering around the micropyle should be filed down to leave a thin covering. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 23°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions when they are more than 15cm tall and give them some protection from winter cold for their first year or three outdoors. Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, August/September in a shaded frame. A high percentage take, but they are slow to root. Cuttings of firm wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, end of June in a frame. Keep in a cool greenhouse for the first year. Leaf-bud cuttings, July/August in a frame.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 7-9

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Cha hua, Chamei, Kamelia sasangkua, Mei camellia, Perdu teh sasangkua, Sazanka, Shan cha, So, Tra-mai,

Synonyms

Thea sasanqua.