Camellia sasanqua 'Winter's Snowman' (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. Camellia sasanqua differs from its more popular relative Camellia japonica by its bloom season (fall as opposed to winter/spring) and its improved resistance to root rot. Although 'Winter's Snowman' is called a sasanqua camellia, the truth is not really that simple; 'Winter's Snowman' is actually a specialized hybrid in the Ackerman series of hybrids, and is actually a combination of three different camellia cultivars: C. sasanqua 'Narumi-gata,' C. hiemalis 'Shishi-gashira,' and C. oleifera 'Plain Jane.' Plants in the Ackerman series were bred for extreme cold tolerance in the early 1990s, and thanks to the genetics of 'Plain Jane' camellia, 'Winter's Snowman' can survive temperatures as low as -10° F without showing any signs of winter injury.

Exact size differs between Camellia species and cultivars, and as a result, the hybrid 'Winter's Snowman,' grows to a medium size of 4-12' tall and about 5' wide. This cultivar is noted for its attractive and fragrant white or blush white flowers, which typically bloom from late fall to early 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, with their glossy, evergreen leaves and flowers that attract a great deal of late pollinators, camellias like 'Winter's Snowman' double as prized ornamentals and shelter for overwintering birds, making them a great non-native introduction to any landscape.