Camellia
Camellia japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Theaceae
Genus:	Camellia L.
Species
About 100–250 species, including: Camellia assimilis Camellia brevistyla Camellia caudata Camellia chekiangoleosa Camellia chrysantha – Golden Camellia Camellia connata Camellia crapnelliana Camellia cuspidata Camellia euryoides Camellia forrestii Camellia fraterna Camellia furfuracea Camellia granthamiana Camellia grijsii Camellia honkongensis Camellia irrawadiensis Camellia japonica – Japanese Camellia Camellia kissii Camellia lutchuensis Camellia miyagii Camellia nokoensis Camellia oleifera Camellia parviflora Camellia pitardii Camellia polyodonta Camellia reticulata Camellia rosiflora Camellia rusticana – Snow Camellia Camellia salicifolia Camellia saluenensis Camellia sasanqua – Christmas Camellia Camellia semiserrata Camellia sinensis – Tea Camellia taliensis Camellia transnokoensis Camellia tsaii Camellia vietnamensis Camellia yunnanensis

Camellia (Tsubaki in Japanese) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia from the Himalaya east to Japan and Indonesia. There is some controversy over the number of existant species, with anything from 100–250 species being accepted. The genus was named after Fr. Kamel S.J., a Jesuit botanist.

They are evergreen shrubs and small trees from 2–20 m tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, usually glossy, and 3–17 cm long. The flowers are large and conspicuous, 1–12 cm diameter, with (in natural conditions) 5–9 petals; colour varies from white to pink and red, and yellow in a few species. The fruit is a dry capsule subdivided into 1–5 compartments, each containing 1–8 seeds.

The genus is generally adapted to acidic soils, and does not grow well on chalk or other calcium-rich soils. Most species also have a high rainfall requirement and will not tolerate drought.

Camellia species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Camellia.

The largest use is in tea production:

• Camellia sinensis is originally from China, Tibet and Japan. 9 - 15 feet tall, 2 inch leaves. Resistant to very cold temperatures
• Camellia Assamica is originally from North East India. 45 - 60 feet tall, more of a tree than a bush. 6 inch leaves. Prefers warmer climates.

There are numerous hybrids that originate from the above two species, which have been developed to suit different conditions. Tea oil is a sweet seasoning and cooking oil made by pressing the seeds of Camellia sinensis or Camellia oleifera.

Many other camellias are grown as ornamental plants for their flowers; about 3,000 cultivars and hybrids have been selected, many with double flowers, as in the gallery below. Camellia japonica (often simply called Camellia) is the most prominent species in cultivation, with over 2,000 named cultivars; next are C. reticulata, with over 400 named cultivars, and C. sasquana, with over 300 named cultivars. Popular hybrids include C. × hiemalis (C. japonica × C. sasquana) and C. × williamsii (C. japonica × C. salouenensis). They are highly valued in Japan and elsewhere for their very early flowering, often among the first flowers to appear in the late winter. Late frosts can damage the flowers.

Camellia japonica is the state flower of Alabama as well as the city flower of the Chinese municipality Chongqing.

• HRH The Queen Mother grew Camellia's in everyone of her gardens. As her body was taken from her home to lie in state at Westminster Hall of the Palace of Westminster, a placing of Camellia's from her own gardens was placed on top of the coffin
• Coco Chanel was very well known for wearing a white Camellia

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  Double flowered Camellia
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  Camellia sasanqua
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  Camellia japonica 'Pink Perfection'
• Double flowered Camellia
  Double flowered Camellia
• Double flowered Camellia
  Double flowered Camellia
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  19th century illustration

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camellia.

jaCathedralCamellia:ツバキ

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camellia.