Camellia (genus, "Tsubaki")

Japanese name: ツバキ （椿）
Scientific name: Camellia

[Overview]
An evergreen tree.
The leaves are simple and alternate, with short petioles.
The leaf margins have blunt serrations.
There are many cultivars, with flowers of various colors and shapes.
The flowers usually grow singly in the axil of the first scale leaf of the winter bud.
Because the bases of the petals and the bases of the stamens are fused together, the flower falls all at once, slipping off whole.

[History]
In ancient times (the Jodai period) it was believed to bring eternal youth and longevity and to have the power to ward off evil, and it was used in court events and festivals.
It was already cultivated in the Nara period, and from the end of the Muromachi period, along with the development of the tea ceremony and flower arrangement, appreciation of it flourished.
In the mid-Edo period many cultivars were created.
It also appears frequently as a subject of waka poetry and paintings.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by layering.
It is tough and tolerant of both heat and cold.
It grows from sun to shade, but it is best to avoid places that receive afternoon sun or shade that is too dark.
Avoid winter north winds as well.
It prefers well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the garden, once established, watering is not particularly necessary unless the soil becomes severely dry.
For plants in the garden, apply fertilizer in winter in January–February; for potted plants, apply slow-release fertilizer in September and after flowering.
When the soil has become biased toward alkaline, it is good to apply a physiologically acidic fertilizer (such as ammonium sulfate).
Flower buds form in early summer to summer, so if pruning, do it as soon as possible after flowering.
Pests and diseases include sooty mold, tea tussock moth and scale insects.
In particular, the tea tussock moth can cause a skin rash even by touch alone, so caution is needed.

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