![ochitsubaki ochitsubaki](https://live.staticflickr.com/7831/46044639404_0e75a9e64e_b.jpg)
Cut stems with their flowers are used in the traditional art of ikebana.Ĭamellia japonica was brought to the West in the early 1700s, and soon became popular in Great Britain and Europe. In Japan, “japonicas” are important evergreen elements in traditional Japanese gardens, and are also used in parks as a shade trees and in hedges. They take well to pruning – any time after flowering and before fall – and thus can be trained in a variety of forms, or pruned to control their size. Shallow-rooted, they’re sensitive to drought as well as strong winds, and need protection from the root competition of nearby plants – groundcovers as well as trees and shrubs. Zone 7), they nevertheless need careful siting: they prefer shade during the hottest part of the day, and moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acid to neutral soil.
![ochitsubaki ochitsubaki](https://d3rwyinxzcqr6y.cloudfront.net/Assets/87/946/L_p0025594687.jpg)
Usually considered shrubs, with time many “japonica” cultivars become small trees. sasanqua. Upright and broad, though some are columnar, they tend to be taller at maturity than “sasanquas.” Their foliage is usually larger, broader and more “leathery” in substance. In general, Camellia japonica cultivars are stockier and less graceful than those of C. Samurai were commonly required to behead outlaws, and tsubaki’s fallen flowers seemed to resemble the falling heads. Historically, however, the samurai viewed this characteristic as unlucky, and didn’t permit tsubaki to be planted at their homes.
![ochitsubaki ochitsubaki](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OKUSWTPlLxM/VkRTcUttDyI/AAAAAAAACF8/AC2jtokDvbo/s1600/Ochazuke%2BJapanese%2BCuisine.jpg)
In general, breeders consider the shedding of whole flowers to be an asset - flowers are long-lived on the plant and in the vase. This beautiful sight is known as ochitsubaki, and has long been celebrated in haiku poetry. The substantial flowers of “japonicas” drop off whole, rather than as single petals, often completely covering the ground. In Japan, however, the simpler “wild” form is also highly valued, and has been planted in public as well as private spaces. These forms include the following: single, semi-double, anemone, peony, rose-form double, and formal double. Breeders’ goals have included intricate flower forms with many petals, and unusual color variegations (multiple colors and patterns). Their flowers are larger and showier than those of Sasanqua Camellias, but are not usually fragrant. Most bloom in late winter or spring, rather than fall or early winter. Japanese Camellia has flowers of good substance - a major factor in the breeding of so many cultivars. The fruit capsules are rounded and green, becoming purplish-red and woody when ripe. In their center is a broad mass of golden stamens. Flowers are typically red (occasionally pink or white) and single in form, with five to six petals. The bark is smooth and gray, and the evergreen leaves are oval and glossy, with finely-toothed margins.
![ochitsubaki ochitsubaki](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/69/95/e0/ochiai-shuraku-community.jpg)
The wild form is variable, but generally it’s a small tree growing to about 30 feet tall, with a somewhat thin, uneven appearance. In Japan, it’s most often found in mountain forests and thickets. More than 20,000 cultivars have been developed in Japan and throughout the world.Ĭamellia japonica is native to the milder areas of Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea. Although various camellia species have been grown for thousands of years (for their oil or for making tea), Japanese Camellia has been grown and hybridized as an ornamental – primarily for the beauty of its flowers. Our Seattle Japanese Garden contains many cultivars (cultivated varieties) of this beloved evergreen tree, which is also known as Common Camellia. The Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica, known as tsubaki in Japan) is more well-known and has larger, showier flowers than the earlier-blooming Camellia sasanqua, which was featured previously (October 2016) in this blog.