What does camellia look like and what are its characteristics?

1. What does it look like?

Camellia is a small tree or shrub of the genus Camellia in the Theaceae family, about 9 meters in height. Its young branches are hairless, and its leathery leaves are oval and 5-10 cm long. The leaves are dark green on the outside, light green on the back, and have fine serrations on the edges. Its flowers are terminal and mostly red in color. There are about 10 bracts and sepals forming a cup shape. There are 6-7 petals, and the outer 2 are round. It usually blooms in October and lasts until May of the following year, with the most blooming period from January to March.

2. Characteristics of Camellia

1. Habits: Camellia is a sun-loving plant and is suitable for growing in a warm and humid environment. Loose and fertile acidic soil is more conducive to the development of the plant. When the temperature is between 20-32℃, the plant can grow rapidly. If it exceeds 35℃, the leaves will easily be burned. In addition, the ambient humidity should be kept above 70%.

2. Distribution: Camellia has a 1,400-year cultivation history in my country and is distributed throughout the country. It can be grown outdoors in central and southern provinces and cities, but needs to be kept in a greenhouse in the north to overwinter, otherwise it is prone to frostbite. There are still wild species in Shandong, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Taiwan.

3. Varieties: There are as many as 2,000 varieties of camellia. According to the petals, they can be divided into three types: single petal, double petal and triple petal. According to the flower shape, they can be divided into 12 types, namely single petal, double petal, five-star, lotus, pine cone, osmanthus, chrysanthemum, hibiscus, crown, hydrangea, radial and rose types.