Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' (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 may grow to 6-14' tall and 5-8' wide, so plenty of room is required for healthy planting of sasanqua camellias.

First discovered at Nuccio's Nurseries in Altadena, CA, the 'Yuletide' cultivar originated as a chance red-blooming seedling from the popular 'Kanjiro' camellia. As a true cultivar of Camellia sasanqua, 'Yuletide' grows to a medium-large size of 8-10' tall and and slightly narrower. This cultivar is noted for its attractive and fragrant flowers that bloom through the late fall and winter (occasionally through Christmastime) with bright red petals and yellow centers, which contrast excellently with dark, evergreen foliage, especially during the holidays.

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 'Yuletide' 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 'Yuletide' a great non-native introduction to any landscape.