Japanese Camellia

Japanese camellia is the broadleaf evergreen that blooms when nothing else dares. In Western Washington, the flowers open in late winter through early spring, glossy, formal, layered blooms in white, pink, rose, and red that appear against dark, waxy foliage at a time when the rest of the garden offers nothing but bare branches and mud. Native to Japan, Korea, and China, the species has been hybridized obsessively for centuries, producing over two thousand named cultivars. The plant grows slowly to about fifteen feet as an oval evergreen shrub or small tree, providing year-round structure in addition to its seasonal performance.

Camellia demands two things in Western Washington: acidic soil and protection from morning sun after a frost. The flowers and buds are vulnerable to freeze damage, and the worst injury happens when frozen tissue thaws rapidly in direct morning sunlight. Plant it on the north or west side of a building, under high canopy, or anywhere it is shaded until mid-morning. Part shade is ideal. It wants consistent moisture but not soggy feet, and our native acidic soils suit it well without amendment. No significant disease or pest concerns are flagged in the regional knowledge base for this species, which is notable for such a widely planted ornamental. Camellia scale can be an issue in neglected specimens, but well-maintained plants in proper siting are remarkably trouble-free.