Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua, an evergreen bush itself is tucked away beneath an even greater evergreen behemoth. Yet even in this shady situation opposite the arid land house managing to push out a few flowers.
A native to Japan, where it is cultivated and hybridised with enthusiasm.
This specimen has delicate flowers with light pink petals and a central ring of yellow anthers. Some petals exhibiting a slight white variegation. There are many cultivars including ones with variegated blooms. Unlike the spring flowering species this shy autumn flowered Camellia exudes a scent on a warm day. Not a pleasant scent though, reminiscent of musty leaf mould.