Camellias flower when little else in the garden dares to, unfurling rose-like blooms against glossy evergreen foliage through the coldest, greyest stretch of the year.
Native to East Asia and long revered in Japan and China, camellias are the source of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) as well as hundreds of purely ornamental cultivars grown for their winter and early spring color.
Camellia symbolizes longing, admiration, and refined beauty, and in Japan the white camellia specifically carries a meaning of waiting devotion.
Camellias prefer partial shade and acidic, well-draining, humus-rich soil similar to what azaleas and rhododendrons enjoy. Morning sun with afternoon shade produces the healthiest foliage, and a thick layer of mulch helps protect shallow roots and retain moisture.
A close relative, Camellia sinensis, is the source plant for green, black, and white tea — though ornamental garden camellias are grown strictly for their flowers, not for brewing.
