Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi Gashira' (Camellia)

Camellia sasanqua is a fragrant, evergreen shrub originally native to upland forest understories in southern Japan and noted for its beautiful, showy flowers which differ greatly between cultivars. Occasionally called a Christmas camellia, Camellia sasanqua differs from its more popular relative Camellia japonica by its bloom season (fall/winter as opposed to winter/spring) and its improved resistance to root rot. Though exact size may vary between cultivars, Camellia sasanqua typically grows to 6-14' tall and 5-8' wide, so plenty of room is required for healthy planting of sasanqua camellias; that said, however, there are plenty of smaller varieties on the market.

The 'Shishi Gashira' cultivar of camellia has been around for a long time, as far as the camellia trade goes, with records describing the variety dating as far back as 1859 reliably. The 'Shishi Gashira' name roughly translates to 'chief lion's-mane,' referring to the variety's shaggy, low-growing habit and its consistent place far beyond the rest of the pack in terms of ornamental value. As a semi-dwarf cultivar of Camellia sasanqua, 'Shishi Gashira' grows to a small-medium size of just 4-5' tall and 6-8' wide, perfect for small garden spaces, hedges, and for filling in larger beds. Noted for its attractive, rosy-pink semi-doubled flowers with yellow centers, 'Shishi Gashira' is considered an early to mid-season fall camellia, typically blooming from October into the late winter.

Due to their native upland forest habitat, sasanqua camellias prefer part-shade conditions and moist, organically rich soils with good drainage. While sasanqua camellias are more resistant to root rot, meaning slightly better tolerance to wet soils, they lose the kind of drought tolerance that comes with the common Camellia japonica. Either way, even with less drought tolerance, Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi Gashira' is sure to amaze with its glossy, evergreen leaves and flowers that attract a great deal of late pollinators, and doubles as shelter for overwintering birds, making this variety a great non-native introduction to any landscape.