The Camellia sasanqua is native to Japan and is one of few plants, including Camellia japonica, which color gardens during desolate wintry scenes. At the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, Camellia sasanqua has been exhibited since 2001 as part of the special program “traditional seasonal plants.” It also includes the unique varieties known as “Edo Camellia sasanqua” and “Higo Camellia sasanqua”.
Camellia sasanquas are broadly divided into three groups: the “Camellia sasanqua group,” which is close to the native species; the “Camellia x hiemalis group,” which is regarded as the seedling or progeny of Shishigashira; and the “Camellia x vernalis group,” which is regarded as a natural cross-breed of Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica or its progeny. Camellia sasanqua blooms from mid-October to February the following year by grouping it in the above-mentioned order. All these varieties were selected from variants of seedling, and it can be said that the methods for maintaining and spreading such varieties considerably characterize Japanese gardening culture.
At this Botanical Garden, focusing on the relationship between people and Camellia sasanqua from aspects of both genetic and cultural resources, we have studied living plants and historical materials together and exhibited the results. In this year’s program “Winter Flowers - Camellia sasanqua,” with the theme of the names of Camellia sasanqua, the change of the origin of the name with the times and the grouping by variety are exhibited.
