26 named cultivars

shrub

Sasanqua Camellia

The Story

Plant Bio

Camellia sasanqua is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree from Japan, reaching six to fourteen feet on an open, arching, often pyramidal frame. Lustrous dark green leaves are noticeably smaller than those of the common camellia, and saucer-shaped flowers one to three inches across, single or semi-double, open through autumn and early winter.

It takes considerably more sun than Camellia japonica and flowers in autumn rather than spring, which puts the whole display safely ahead of the late frosts that brown japonica buds. The flowers also shatter petal by petal instead of dropping whole, so it litters less over a path. Plant it high in well-drained acid soil — root rot kills camellias far more often than cold does.

Uses & Benefits:

Autumn and early winter flowers on a glossy evergreen frame, when almost nothing else is blooming.

Dense enough for screening, tolerant of sun, salt and drought once established, and long-lived.

Pollinators work the open single flowers late in the year, and songbirds shelter in the dense growth.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

96 inches

Width

72 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Japan

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in acid, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.
Set the root ball slightly high, never below grade.
Give it full sun to partial shade; it tolerates more sun than japonica.
Water deeply through the first two summers.
Mulch, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.
Prune straight after flowering if shaping is needed.

Pro Tip

Plant it an inch or two proud of the surrounding soil — buried camellia crowns are the single commonest cause of root rot.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant slightly high in well-drained acid soil ⛰️
Mulch clear of the trunk 🍂
Water deeply while establishing 💧
Prune right after flowering finishes ✂️

Don't

Plant it deep or in heavy wet clay ❌
Prune in summer — you cut off the flower buds ❌
Let mulch pile against the stem ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prune
Treat Scale

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen screen or informal hedgeEspalier against a warm wallAutumn-flowering specimen near a path

Companion Plants

Japanese Maple Hellebore Autumn Fern Daphne Mahonia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Sasanqua Camellia questions

What zones can Sasanqua Camellia grow in?

Sasanqua Camellia is hardy in USDA Zones 7–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Sasanqua Camellia deer resistant?

Yes — Sasanqua Camellia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Sasanqua Camellia bloom?

Sasanqua Camellia typically blooms in fall to early winter through mid-fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Sasanqua Camellia need full sun?

Sasanqua Camellia does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.