Sasanqua camellia

Camellia sasanqua

In other languages: Camelia (Nederlands) · Camélia (Français)

This camellia comes from southern Japan, where it is called sazanka. It is finer and looser than other camellias, with smaller glossy leaves and a rather open habit. What makes it special is that it flowers in autumn, from October to December, with single or semi-double flowers in white, pink or red that are often softly scented. It is less hardy than the spring-flowering camellias and needs a sheltered spot in Belgium. Well-known cultivars are ‘Narumigata’ (white edged with pink) and ‘Cleopatra’ (pink).

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Partial shade
no harsh midday sun
Moisture
Normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand, loam or peat
acid
Hardiness
down to -12 °C
protect in harsh winters
Size
3 m
tall, 2 m wide
Flowering
October–December

Key facts
Pruning months	March–April
Height	3 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	October–December

Identify

Sasanqua camellia: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Loose, upright shrub 1.5–3 m tall, with thin, slightly hairy twigs.
Leaves: Small, 3–7 cm, elliptical, glossy dark green with finely toothed edges.
Flower: Single or semi-double, 5–7 cm across, from October to December; the petals fall separately.
Colour: White, pink or red, with a ring of yellow stamens.
Scent: Light and sweet, easy to smell in many cultivars.

Flowering: October–December · Plants: April–May and September · Pruning: March–April

In your garden

Why grow it?

Flowers in autumn, when little else in the garden is still in bloom.
Scented flowers, which is fairly unusual among camellias.
Glossy evergreen leaves: attractive all year round.
Can be grown as a loose shrub, a low hedge or trained against a wall.
Suits a large pot on a sheltered patio.

Sasanqua camellia: where does it grow best?

Partial shade, sheltered from cold winds; a spot against a west- or south-west-facing wall is ideal.
Acid, humus-rich soil: sand, loam or peat, without lime.
Evenly moist: never let it dry out, especially in summer.
Allow 1.5–2 m of space.

Light: Partial shade
Soil type: Sand, loam or peat
Acidity: Acid
Moisture: Normal
Size: 3 m tall, 2 m wide
Hardiness: Half hardy (to -12 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

Japanese anemone: Flowers in September–October and leads nicely into the autumn display.
Ferns: A fresh green base in partial shade.
Rhododendron: The same acid soil, but flowers in spring: that gives you two flowering seasons.
Skimmia: A low evergreen shrub for acid soil, with buds that decorate it all winter.

Maintenance

Sasanqua camellia: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September.

Plant in April–May or in September, so it can root well before winter.
Dig a wide hole and mix the soil with ericaceous compost or leaf mould.
Set the root ball at the same level as in the pot or slightly higher, never deeper.
Firm the soil and water in well with rainwater.
Mulch with pine needles, bark or leaf mould.

Care

Watering: Preferably rainwater, and regularly in dry summers: otherwise the buds drop.
Feeding: In April, an ericaceous fertiliser; nothing after July.
Mulching: A layer of leaf mould or pine needles every spring.
In a pot: Ericaceous compost and a pot with a drainage hole; in hard frost, move it to a cool, light, frost-free place.
Fallen petals: They form a coloured carpet under the shrub; you can leave them.

Tip: Water it regularly with rainwater from July to September: that is when the buds form, and a dry summer can cost you the whole autumn display.

Sasanqua camellia: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: After flowering, in March–April, before the new shoots appear.

How:

Shorten overlong or awkward branches to just above a leaf.
Remove dead and frost-damaged branches.
As a hedge or against a wall: trim lightly for shape; the new shoots will carry the flowers in autumn.

Caution: Do not prune in summer: by then the flower buds for autumn are already sitting at the tips.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings: In July–August, take 8–10 cm semi-ripe cuttings and root them in moist, acid cutting compost under plastic; rooting takes several months.
Layering: In spring, peg a low branch into the soil and sever it after a year.

Sasanqua camellia: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −12 °C: protect in harsh winters.

Moderately hardy, to about −12 °C: plant it in a sheltered spot, for example against a wall.
Frost can brown open flowers and buds; in a severe winter the leaves and young twigs may be damaged too.
Protect young plants in hard frost with a double layer of horticultural fleece and a thick mulch over the roots.
In a pot: in hard frost, move it to a cool, light and frost-free place and keep watering sparingly.

Diseases and pests

Bud drop: Buds fall before they open, usually because of drought in summer. Water regularly with rainwater.
Yellow leaves: Yellow leaves with green veins, caused by lime or too high a pH. Use rainwater and an ericaceous fertiliser.
Scale insects: Brown scales and sticky leaves with black sooty mould. Wipe off with a soft brush and soapy water.
Frost damage: Brown flowers or leaves after hard frost. Wait until April before cutting out dead parts.

Through the year

March: Light pruning after flowering.
April: Prune. Plant. Apply ericaceous fertiliser. Mulch.
May: Plant.
July: Take semi-ripe cuttings. Water in dry weather.
August: Water in dry weather: the flower buds are forming.
September: Plant. Water in dry weather.
October: Flowering begins.
November: Full flower. Bring pots indoors in hard frost.
December: Last flowers. Have fleece ready for hard frost.

You and this species

Did you know?

The name sasanqua comes from the Japanese name sazanka.
Unlike the Japanese camellia, its petals fall one by one, creating a coloured carpet under the shrub.
It belongs to the same genus as the tea plant, Camellia sinensis.

Garden plants · All species