Camellia sasanqua 'Winter's Star' (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, however, the term sasanqua camellia is used as an umbrella term for fall-blooming camellia cultivars. This is the case for 'Winter's Star,' which is actually a hybrid of cultivars of Camellia oleifera and Camellia hiemalis.

Growing to a compact size of 4-6' tall and about 5-7' wide, 'Winter's Star' is part of the Ackerman series of hybrids, bred for extreme cold tolerance in the early 1990s. 'Winter's Star' can survive temperatures as low as -10° F without showing any signs of winter injury. This cultivar is additionally noted for its attractive, star-shaped pink flowers with yellow centers, which typically bloom from late fall to early winter. 'Winter's Star' blooms also have the added benefit of being fragrant, adding even more multi-season interest.

Due to their native upland forest habitat, sasanqua camellias prefer part-shade conditions and moist, organically rich soils with good drainage. With their glossy, evergreen leaves and attractive flowers, camellias are a great non-native introduction to any landscape that double as prized ornamentals and shelter for overwintering birds.