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 Camellias are not native to America. They are indigenous to Asia, and are commonly found growing in Japan, China, and Vietnam. There are over two hundred different species of camellias that are known to exist throughout the world, but the most recognized camellias species is the western world are Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua. As much as we enjoy the ornamental value of camellias, our love affair with these beautiful shrubs began with an unquenchable thirst for one of its lesser known species.

 For over three thousands years, people in China and Japan have enjoyed a drink made from the leaves of a camellia species known as Camellia sinensis. In Asia, the word for this drink was called cha, but in the western world, we know it as tea. In the early 1600’s, English traders discovered tea in southern China and began importing this product back to England. It did not take long for the English to develop a strong liking for this camellia drink, and it soon became one of the most sought after commodities in England. In the early 1700’s, certain English entrepreneurs, came up with a plan to import Tea Plants into England to produce local tea. It has been widely speculated that during the initial attempts to import Tea Plants, the Chinese traders substituted plants of Camellia japonica to the unknowing Englishmen. This ancient version of deception may have delayed the importation of the highly sought after Tea Plants, but it also may have been the first step of camellias reaching our gardens in America.

During the latter part of the eighteenth century, camellias were beginning to make their way to America. According to Brown and Feathers in their 1978 book entitled The Camellia, the first record of japonicas being brought into the United States was at Hoboken, New Jersey around 1797. The first camellias in America were grown in greenhouses in several northern cities. Both Boston and Philadelphia were famous for their camellias during the early to mid 1800’s.  

In the mid nineteenth century, camellias were distributed from the northern production areas to the southern states by way of the many plantations in the south. Both Middleton Place and Magnolia Gardens near Charleston, South Carolina became some of the first gardens in the south to have camellia collections. Today, the old camellias of Middleton Place still provide enchantment every year to gardeners who visit during the blooming season.

Camellias in America were considered to an aristocratic plant during the early years. Only those wealthy enough to have greenhouses in the north and those with large plantations in the south grew camellias initially. By the early 1900’s, camellias began to become part of the average southern garden. As more varieties became available, southern gardeners realized that these exquisite flowers were grown on some of the most handsome shrubs as well. The combination of great plants and beautiful blooms made camellias a favorite in southern gardens. 

Today, there are over 10,000 varieties of Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua growing in the United States. This diversity of flower and form combined with a beautiful shrub that is easy to grow has made camellias the queen of southern gardens. Colors range from white to pink to red with just about every shade and combination of these colors available. Most camellias bloom between September and March which provides a unique bust of ornamental color when most plants in the garden are asleep. Camellias prefer moist acid soils and moderately cold temperatures. These factors have made camellias perfect transplants into our southern landscapes. 

The future of camellias promises even more changes to the already superb ornamental. Each year, more new camellia species are making their way closer to our gardens. In 1980, the first yellow flowering camellia species called Camellia nitidissima was imported into America. In recent years, more diverse yellow flowering species have begun to be transplanted into our southern gardens as well. Many new camellias species such as Camellia lutchuensis and Camellia fraterna are very fragrant shrubs that may one day help camellia hybrids to be even sweeter smelling than roses. In 1989, another camellia species called Camellia azalea was discovered in a remote region of China. The unique characteristic about this camellia species is its long blooming season. It can bloom twelve months out of the year. All of these diverse characteristics of these new camellia species will one day improve our perception of camellias to degrees never before thought possible. 

Camellias have been part of our southern gardens for many generations. Their graceful plant forms, majestic foliage, and winter blooming characteristics make camellias a perfect choice for every southern garden. With many plants well over a century old, camellias have truly become part of our southern heritage.