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Camellia sasanqua
Sasanqua camellia is an evergreen shrub or small tree from southern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, prized for its autumn and winter flowers. It is tougher and more tolerant of sun and heat than Camellia japonica, and it grows well in a wide range of soils.
Camellia sasanqua, with common name Sasanqua camellia or Christmas camellia (茶梅, サザンカ), is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the genus Camellia, section Oleifera of the family Theaceae. It is native to southern Japan (Shikoku, Kyushu) and the Ryukyu Islands. It has a long cultivation history in East Asia, used both as an ornamental plant and for seed oil extraction and leaf tea.
Camellia sasanqua is adaptable to a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Compared to Camellia japonica, it exhibits greater tolerance to drought and high temperatures. During full summer sun, leaf surface temperatures may exceed 40 °C (104 °F), yet the plant continues normal growth provided that soil moisture is adequate. Most cultivars are capable of overwintering outdoors; the semi-lethal temperature for leaves is approximately −14 to −12.5 °C (6.8 to 9.5 °F). The species displays broad soil adaptability and grows well within a pH range of 5.5–7.5, although it prefers well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic sandy loam.
Propagation is achieved primarily through cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings taken with a heel during the rainy season and maintained under high humidity and sealed conditions yield a high success rate. Grafting onto Camellia oleifera rootstock is also practiced.
The leaves can be used as a tea substitute. Oil pressed from the seeds (sasanqua camellia oil), once refined, is suitable for cooking. Because its fatty acid composition resembles that of olive oil (oleic acid content about 82%), it is often called "Oriental olive oil". Unrefined oil can be used for lighting, lubrication, soap making, and the silk industry.
Hong Kong Camellia · Camellia · Tea Oil Plant · Camellia petelotii · To-tsubaki · Tea · Camellia taliensis · Camellia ×williamsii · Tea
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Camellia sasanqua by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
