The Camellia, scientifically known as “Tea Flower,” is a shrub or small tree belonging to the Theaceae family and the Camellia genus. It’s a traditional Chinese ornamental flower, and also one of the world’s prized plants. The leaves of the Camellia are leathery, featuring shapes such as oval and ovate.
The edges are serrated, the tops deep green and glossy, with a paler underside. Its large flowers grow at the tips of the branches, with 6-7 petals that are close to round. The blooming period is long, extending from October to May of the following year, with the peak bloom typically between January and March.
Camellia , also known as Mountain Tea Flower, is a common name for many plants and horticultural varieties of the Theaceae family and the Camellia genus. The petals are bowl-shaped, either single or double-petaled. Single-petaled Camellias are mostly original species, while double-petaled ones can have as many as 60 petals.
Camellias come in various shades of red, purple, white, and yellow, even multicolored ones, and the plant can grow up to 4 meters tall. They prefer warm, moist environments. The blooming period is long, extending from October to May of the following year, with the peak bloom typically between January and March.
Due to its graceful plant form, glossy dark green leaves, and vibrant flowers, the Camellia is treasured in the world of horticulture. With a multitude of varieties, it’s a traditional Chinese ornamental flower, ranking eighth among the “Top Ten Famous Flowers,” and is also one of the world’s prized plants, widely cultivated in regions such as North Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and India.
This is a rare and prized variety of Camellia that supposedly produces eighteen different colored flowers on a single plant. In reality, “Eighteen Scholars” refers to a Camellia variety with eighteen layers of petals. It’s a commonly seen yet highly esteemed variety, notable for its unique flower structure.
Though not commonly seen, the Golden Camellia is representative of the more rare Camellia varieties. Extremely scarce with a narrow distribution, it’s known as the “Oriental Magic Tea” overseas. Its golden yellow flowers seem to have a layer of wax applied, making it extraordinarily stunning and vibrant.
Named after the agate stone due to its red and white alternating flower color, this variety of Camellia comes in both red and white agate forms. The red agate variety is commonly referred to as “pig’s blood mixed with tofu,” while the white agate is “tofu mixed with pig’s blood.”
This is the most common variety of Camellia, with large, beautiful flowers that are bright red and hexagonal in shape, hence the name “Hexagonal Red.” The flowers of Hexagonal Red can reach over 12 centimeters in diameter, with over a hundred petals, displaying an unmistakable dignified aura.
Among all Camellia varieties, the Purple Robe has the darkest color and is considered a high-quality variety. The flowers of the Purple Robe Camellia are also quite large, reaching a diameter of up to 16 centimeters, boasting an irresistibly deep and rich color.
Named after its color resemblance to the red crown of a crane, this variety is considered quite valuable. The flower is as large as a lotus and as red as blood, and was greatly favored by literati in ancient times.
Sky-High Envy is a prized variety of Camellia from Yunnan, China. Due to its shorter stature and slower growth, it’s called “Sky-High Envy.” Its flowers are rather small, in a peach red color, and was originally named “Han Red Chrysanthemum Petals.”
This Camellia variety has peculiar flowers, with red and white colors not interspersed like the Large Agate, but rather, in a striped pattern, hence the name “Fiery Claw.”
This Camellia variety, with its flowers resembling Camellias and leaves akin to azaleas, is called the Azalea Red Camellia. It’s highly treasured for its ornamental value, often called the “panda of the plant kingdom,” and is a national first-class protected plant in China.
The flower color of the Crown variety is similar to the “Crown” variety of azaleas, hence its name. It’s a variant of the Peony Camellia, with red patterns on its white petals, exuding an air of dignified elegance.
Camellias are wind-fearing and sun-loving plants, thriving in high terrain with good air circulation, in warm and humid conditions, with good drainage, and in loose, fertile sandy soil, loam or humus soil. The ideal pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. They grow best in temperatures between 20-32°C (68-89.6°F). Growth stops above 29°C (84.2°F), and leaves may show signs of scorch at 35°C (95°F).
A certain temperature difference is needed. Environmental humidity should be over 70%, and most varieties can withstand low temperatures of -8°C (17.6°F). They can typically overwinter naturally in regions south of the Huai River in China, and prefer acidic soil with good ventilation.
Originally native to the Himalayas, Camellias are found in China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. Later, Camellias spread to Europe and America, becoming one of the world’s well-known flowers. They have been cultivated outdoors in most provinces of central and southern China for over 1,400 years, while in the north, they are typically grown as potted plants in greenhouses.
Camellias are shrubs or small trees that can grow up to 9 meters tall, with hairless young branches. The leaves are leathery, oval-shaped, 5-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide. The tips of the leaves are slightly pointed, or sharply pointed with a blunt head.
The base of the leaf is broadly wedge-shaped. The top surface is deep green and becomes glossy when dry, hairless. The underside is light green, hairless, with 7-8 pairs of lateral veins that are visible on both sides. The margins of the leaves have fine serrations 2-3.5 cm apart. The leaf stalk is 8-15 mm long and hairless.
The flowers are red, terminal, and stalkless. The bracts and sepals, about 10 in total, form a cup-shaped involucre about 2.5-3 cm long, semi-circular to circular, 4-20 mm long, with sericeous on the outside and falling off.
There are 6-7 petals, the 2 outer ones are nearly round, free, 2 cm long, hairy on the outside; the 5 inner ones are connected at the base about 8 mm, ovate, 3-4.5 cm long, hairless. The stamens are arranged in 3 rows, about 2.5-3 cm long; the outer ones are connected at the base, the stamen tube is 1.5 cm long, hairless; the inner stamens are separate, slightly shorter, the ovary is hairless, and the style is 2.5 cm long, with a 3-parted tip.
The fruit is spherical, 2.5-3 cm in diameter, with 2-3 chambers, each containing 1-2 seeds, splitting into 3 valves, with the fruit valves being thick and woody. The flowering period is from January to April. The flowering period of cultivated Camellias is longer, generally starting from October and ending in May of the following year, with the peak flowering period from January to March.
Camellias have elegant branches, green and glossy leaves, colorful and vivid flowers, various beautiful flower shapes, and multiple flower postures. The fragrance is pleasant and invigorating, and there are many varieties. The flowers are mostly red or light red, some are white, and most are double-flowered.
Camellias prefer acidic, well-drained mountainous red (or yellow) soil with a high organic matter content. The pH value should be between 5 and 6.5. Alkaline or heavy clay soils should not be used as potting mix for camellias. Soil preparation: 50% loam, 40% wood chips or edible mushroom residue, 10% cake fertilizer or livestock manure and phosphate fertilizer.
Mix these three components thoroughly, add an appropriate amount of water, bag it, and let it mature for at least 20 days in summer and autumn, or 30 days in spring and winter. This soil not only provides good aeration and drainage but also retains nutrients and moisture, which is suitable for the growth and development of camellias.
The best time for potting is in November during winter and February to March in early spring. At this time, the flower buds are large and the flowers are in full bloom, making it the most suitable time for potting. It is important to avoid damaging the root system when potting, especially when the flowers are wilting and new roots are sprouting.
Potting should generally be stopped before and after the bud sprouting period because the new shoots and leaves require a large amount of water during this time. Potting at this stage can easily harm the new roots and negatively affect the growth and development of the plant that year. Avoid potting during high temperatures and severe winter seasons to prevent plant withering and death.
First, place 3-4 pieces of broken tile at the bottom of a selected flower pot with drainage holes. Then, add some coarse soil, plant the seedling in the pot, and fill the roots with fine soil. Gradually fill the surrounding area of the pot with larger-grain potting soil.
Gently shake the pot and press the soil with your hand to ensure good contact between the soil and the roots. For larger pots, lightly press the potting soil down with a bamboo stick, taking care not to damage the roots. The height of the soil in the pot should be about 4/5 of the pot’s depth to allow for watering.
When potting newly planted seedlings, water them sufficiently until the water drains out from the bottom of the pot.
Keep the newly potted seedlings moist, and after 2 months, water them as you would other potted seedlings. The frequency of watering depends on the climate, but the principle is to keep the soil moist. In general, water more frequently in spring to meet the needs of bud sprouting and shoot growth.
Watering in summer should be done in the morning and evening. During the rainy season, be cautious of waterlogging. Timely watering is necessary during autumn drought. In winter, water the plants around noon to prevent the potting soil from freezing. Dry soil is more prone to freezing damage.
Camellias require adequate fertilization. Generally, apply sufficient base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot when potting or repotting. During autumn and winter, when flower buds develop rapidly, water them with diluted liquid fertilizer once a week and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer 1 to 2 times. Too much nitrogen fertilizer can cause flower buds to wither and dry.
After flowering, reduce or stop fertilization. It is recommended to use diluted liquid fertilizer, and avoid using concentrated fertilizer. In spring, after bud sprouting, apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 17 days.
In summer, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. In early autumn, stop fertilization for about a month. Before flowering, apply diluted liquid fertilizer, and during flowering, apply fast-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote vibrant and prolonged blooming.
Camellias are long-day plants, meaning they require at least 12 hours of daylight to form flower buds. The optimal growth temperature is between 18-25°C, while the ideal flowering temperature is 10-20°C. Temperatures above 35°C can scorch the leaves.
Camellias are not cold-tolerant, so they should be kept indoors during winter with a temperature maintained at 3-5°C. They can tolerate short periods of temperatures as low as -10°C, but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 16°C can stimulate bud growth and cause leaf drop. During the growing season, they should be placed in a semi-shaded environment and should not be exposed to intense direct sunlight.
Particularly in summer and autumn, shading or placing them under trees with filtered sunlight is recommended. Camellias prefer warm temperatures and are sensitive to cold. Indoor temperatures should not drop below 5°C. With appropriate measures in a room with a temperature of 10-15°C, they can bloom around the time of the Spring Festival, with flowering lasting until March.
There are many methods for propagating Camellia flowers, both sexual and asexual reproduction can be used, among which cutting and grafting are more commonly employed.
This method is relatively simple, and the suitable time for cutting is around September, although it can also be done in spring. Select well-grown, semi-woody branches, remove the lower leaves, and keep the top three leaves. Make an oblique cut with a sharp knife, immediately dip the cut end into 200-500 ppm indole-3-butyric acid for 5-15 minutes, let it dry, and then insert it into a sand or vermiculite pot.
It takes about 40 days for the wound to heal and about 60 days for rooting. Using hormone treatment can result in rooting 2-3 months earlier compared to not using hormones. Rooting is faster when using vermiculite as a propagating medium than using sand beds.
Select suitable varieties such as Camellia sinensis or Camellia oleifera as rootstocks and graft them with valuable Camellia flowers. Grafting is usually done between the Qingming Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. First, plant the rootstock in a flowerpot, then use a knife to cut off about half of the parts to be joined, ensuring a smooth cut surface.
Then tightly join the cut surfaces of both the rootstock and the scion, wrap them with plastic film, and water the rootstock twice a day. After about 60 days, the graft will heal. At that time, the grafted plant can be cut and placed in a shaded area to avoid direct sunlight. In February of the following year, cut off the tail end of the rootstock with a knife and proceed with planting.
Although Camellia flowers are generally propagated by stem cuttings, leaf cuttings are also used for some valuable varieties due to limitations in obtaining stem cuttings or concerns about affecting their tree form. Use a mixture of mountain soil and 1/3 river sand as the propagating substrate for leaf cuttings. Fill the substrate in a clay pot and perform potting. Leaf cuttings are best done during the rainy season. Take one-year-old leaves as cutting material.
Too old leaves are not easy to root, while too young leaves are prone to rot. Insert the leaf cuttings about 2 centimeters into the soil, press the soil firmly after insertion, water it thoroughly, and then place it in a cool and ventilated place. Generally, rooting can occur within 3 months, and the following spring, buds and shoots will emerge.
The biggest feature of the high insertion method is that it allows weak and small branches that would normally be pruned from the Camellia plant to develop into new plants. This method has a high survival rate, rapid recovery, and early flowering. The method involves partially girdling the thin and weak branches that need to be pruned at an appropriate position.
The girdling length should be between 5-8 millimeters. Use appropriately sized plastic film to wrap the girdled area, add sterilized humus soil or leaf mold inside the film. After 7-10 days, girdle again 5-8 millimeters below the previous girdle. This method is called double girdling high insertion.
Camellia flowers are relatively difficult to propagate, and grafting is the most commonly used method for their propagation. Budding propagation of Camellia flowers has many advantages: it can maintain the excellent characteristics of the variety, accelerate plant growth, promote rapid formation, and enable large-scale production. It also saves scion material, which is particularly important for rare varieties with limited sources.
Oil tea tree grafting of Camellia flowers: the best time for budding is between June and July when the new shoots and leaves of the scion have unfolded, and the temperature is high, resulting in faster healing and higher survival rates. The budding method used is the wedge grafting method in which the graft is made at a higher position, often referred to as “top budding.”
Common diseases of Camellia flowers include camellia flower blotch, anthracnose, dieback, leaf spot, and sooty mold. The main control agents are: 800 times concentration of thiophanate-methyl; 500 times concentration of carbendazim; 800 times concentration of copper oxychloride; regular use of 800 times concentration of procymidone. Pay attention to the prevention and control of gray mold and flower blight.
Common pests of Camellia flowers include red spider mites, aphids, scale insects, leaf rollers, and tea tortrix moths. The main control agents are: 15mL of chlorfenapyr and 20mL of water amine phosphine, or 25mL of long-lasting phosphorus mixed with 30 pounds of water for spraying.
Medical Value
The medicinal value of Camellia is often utilized in folk medicine by using the flower buds of Camellia sinensis as medicinal tea. Other species of Camellia also have similar effects. Camellia contains compounds such as catechins and anthocyanins, which have hemostatic properties and are effective in stopping bleeding, dispersing stagnation, and reducing swelling.
It is mainly used to treat conditions such as coughing up blood, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, uterine bleeding, as well as burns, scalds, bruises, and bleeding from wounds. It can also be used to make Camellia wine or added to glutinous rice porridge for the treatment of dysentery.
Effects and Functions
Cooling and hemostatic; dispelling stasis; reducing swelling. Mainly used for vomiting blood, nosebleeds, coughing up blood, rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids, dysentery with bloody stools, blood in urine, uterine bleeding, burns, scalds, and traumatic bleeding.
Ornamental Value
1. Landscaping
Used as a landscaping material. Camellia is an evergreen plant throughout the year and widely distributed. With its graceful tree form, it is an important plant for landscaping in southern China.
① Solitary planting: Utilizing the different natural tree forms of Camellia, it is planted alone in green environments, especially complemented by lush lawns.
② Group planting: Using the natural tree form of Camellia, planting them in clusters with varied heights, forming groups or clusters to highlight the landscape effect of Camellia.
③ Artificial shaping: Camellia can also be shaped artificially for ornamental purposes. For example, pruning can be used to shape the tree crown into a spherical, umbrella-like, or cylindrical form. Camellia can be grown as wall trees, horizontally on the ground, or as crawling plants.
Wall trees are more commonly used in Western Europe and North America, where Camellia is planted outside warm and sunny walls, supported by climbing frames. The branches of Camellia grow along the wall, eventually covering it, creating a magnificent sight.
2. Greening
Due to Camellia’s strong adaptability to light and temperature, as long as attention is paid to water and soil requirements, it can be combined with other plants in urban green spaces, parks, residential areas, city squares, flower beds, and green belts. When Camellia is in full bloom, its vibrant colors add a finishing touch to the surroundings.
3. Gardens
Camellia is most suitable for garden greening. From a cultural perspective, it is a traditional auspicious flower, representing good fortune. In terms of form, Camellia is evergreen throughout the year and suitable for ground planting, potted cultivation, flower bed planting, etc.
Yunnan Camellia, which grows into trees, requires a larger courtyard space and is often planted in temples and academies. In Dali, where the Bai ethnic group resides, every household cultivates flowers, and the first choice is usually Camellia, either in pots or as potted plants.
4. Exhibitions
Camellia can be featured as the theme of spring flower exhibitions, organized at various levels, and is highly popular. Hangzhou, Kunming, Dali, Chengdu, Wenzhou, and other places have established the tradition of hosting annual Camellia flower exhibitions.
Flower exhibitions usually select venues suitable for displaying Camellias, with potted flowers as the main focus. Indoor and outdoor exhibition areas are organized for display and sales, along with holding specialized academic conferences on Camellias.
5. Landscape Areas
Refers to the grand scenes of natural or cultivated Camellia communities on a large scale. The magnificent landscapes of the Golden Camellia Tea Protected Area in Guangxi, the blooming oil tea forests in Jiangxi and Hunan, and the unique ecological landscapes of Camellia on coastal islands in the Shandong Peninsula are all desired destinations for Camellia enthusiasts.
Meaning of Camellia Flower
The language of Camellia flowers: Loveliness, modesty, prudence, virtue, ideal love, extraordinary charm.
White Camellia: Purity, innocence, lovability, perfect charm, true emotions, ideal romance, elegance.
Red Camellia: Natural beauty, the virtue of modesty, humility, noble reason.
Pink and White Camellia: Lavishness, fashionableness.
Pink Camellia: Overcoming difficulties.
Peggie was once a high school mathematics teacher, but she set aside her chalkboard and textbooks to follow her lifelong passion for flowers. After years of dedication and learning, she not only established a thriving flower shop but also founded this blog, “Flowers Library”. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about flowers, feel free to contact Peggie.
English 
العربية 
Bahasa Indonesia 
Deutsch 
Français 
Italiano 
Nederlands 
Português 
Русский 
日本語