camellia
Camellia japonica L.
Camellia japonica is a shrub or small tree with leathery foliage and rose-coloured or white flowers. Its name records two people and places: Camellia honours the naturalist Georg Joseph Kamel, while japonica refers to Japan. Cultivation has produced many double-flowered forms as well as the simpler flowers of the species. Hong Kong Development Bureau: Japanese Camellia
Botanical name
Camellia japonica L. is accepted by Kew and matches the catalog species and authorship. Kew POWO: Camellia japonica
Recognizing the plant
The Hong Kong account describes plants reaching nine metres, with smooth, greyish-brown branches. Leaves have fine teeth along their margins and a prominent yellow-green midrib. Flowers stand alone or in pairs near branch tips or in leaf axils. Numerous stamens have white filaments. Rounded woody capsules develop after flowering, each with three chambers holding one or two brown seeds. Hong Kong Development Bureau: Japanese Camellia
Seasonal development
Hong Kong
The government’s local account records flowering from January to March and fruiting in September and October. The developing capsules acquire a thick, woody wall as they dry. Hong Kong Development Bureau: Japanese Camellia
Native range
Its native range includes parts of eastern China, Korea’s Jeju Island, central and southern Japan, and Taiwan. Kew POWO: Camellia japonica
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.