Camellia Species

There are over 200 species of camellias and the flowers come in all shades of red, pinks, yellow and white and come in various shapes and sizes.

Some species are grown and the leaves are picked and used for tea production,while others are cultivated for production of oil.

The most popular species is probably the Camellia japonica, it is said to have about 3000 varieties, and is grown in all parts of the world with a suitable climate. The flowers are usualy red, some are white and others are variegated and flower from February to June.

Another popular variety is the Camellia sasanqua which also originated in Japan and is a hardy plant which flowers profusely starting in autumn, all have a delicate spicy scent. It is not as popular as the Camellia japonica.

The Camellia reticulata comes from China. They grow with the largest flowers of all camellias, some flowers grow up to 25cm in diameter.

If you decide to buy a camellia plant they can be obtained from nurseries at certain times of the year and if possible it is better to visit a specialist camellia grower who can advise you on all aspects of growing and caring of the plants. The best time to visit is at flowering time when the blooms are out. Another way is to visit the camellia show and see the blooms on display and the show officials can be asked questions about choice and growing.