Side by side
Camellia or rhododendron? How to tell them apart
Camellia japonica · Rhododendron
How to tell them apart – camellia: evergreen shrub with thick, glossy dark green leaves and large, rose-like flowers from February to April; rhododendron: larger, untoothed leaves and trusses of funnel-shaped flowers in May.
How do you recognise them?
- Camellia
- Evergreen shrub with thick, glossy dark green leaves and large, rose-like flowers from February to April.
- Rhododendron
- Shrub with large, leathery leaves and big flower trusses in May; only on acid soil.
- Compared with camellia: larger, untoothed leaves and trusses of funnel-shaped flowers in May.
| Camellia | Rhododendron | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 5–10 cm, oval with a pointed tip, finely toothed, leathery and highly glossy. | Alternate, often in false whorls at the shoot tips, leathery, untoothed, 8–20 cm. Azaleas have smaller, often deciduous leaves. |
| Flowering | Large (6–12 cm) white, pink or red flowers, single or double; they drop off whole (February–April). | Large, funnel-shaped flowers in trusses, May–June, in all kinds of colours (April–June). |
| Fruit | Round, woody capsules. | Woody capsules. |
| Bark | Smooth, greyish-brown. | Greyish-brown. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 2–5 m | Shrub, 1–4 m |
| Site | Partial shade or shade, acid soil, normal | Partial shade or shade, acid soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, naturalised |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Little | Yes, for bees and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | April–May | June–July |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Rhododendron is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Camellia
- Plant profile: Rhododendron
- Camellia: when and how to prune
- Rhododendron: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.