Camellia sasanqua Narumi Gaita

Camellia sasanqua Narumi Gaita, an autumn camellia, blooms in October-November with single flowers resembling Japanese anemones, particularly large for the species, and highly fragrant. They appear very delicate, their white petals faintly tinged with pink and sometimes dashed with small strokes of bright pink around a large heart of golden stamens. They bloom abundantly on a bush with a very natural appearance and a distinctly upright habit, adorned with elegant dark green evergreen foliage. This camellia is robust and capable of adapting to windy or sunny sites,  though it requires a lime-free soil that is  moist in summer. A variety with pristine flowers and a very natural charm.

The 'Narumi Gaita' camellia is one of the many hybrids of the Camellia sasanqua species, which belongs to the Theaceae family. This plant takes an upright, airy form with vigorous and fairly fast growth, reaching 1.20 metres (4 ft) in height and 0.80 metres (2.5 ft) in width within 10 years. At full maturity its size may reach 2 to 2.50 metres (6 to 8 ft). Its flowering period - somewhat short for an autumn camellia - occurs during the months of October and November. Though they may be relatively fleeting, the flowers are splendid, numerous, large and highly fragrant. They measure about 8 cm (3 in) in diameter and strongly resemble Japanese anemones: a corolla of white petals tinged with pink, sometimes bordered by bright pink, surrounding a prominent heart of golden stamens. They are not long-lasting, but continuously renew themselves on the plant, leaving a carpet of petals on the ground, similar to cherry trees in Japan. The foliage, dense and evergreen, is composed of small, dark green, shiny, ovate and leathery dentate leaves, paler on the underside.

Camellia x sasanqua 'Narumi Gaita', like its Japanese ancestor, tolerates sunny and windy conditions better than other camellias. It performs better in mild climates than in cold regions, where its hardiness is sometimes compromised and its flowers destroyed. Wherever winters are not too harsh, it can be planted in the garden in isolation or combined with other acid-loving plants (Rhododendron, Azaleas, Hydrangea, Hamamelis) in a flowering hedge. The 'Narumi Gaita' camellia deserves a prime location, at the entrance of the garden or along a pathway. You can adorn its base with autumn bulbs, such as colchicum or cyclamen. In cold regions, it can be grown on a balcony or terrace and brought indoors during the flowering period to a veranda or cool greenhouse. If necessary, provided its foliage is regularly misted and it is watered with non-calcereous water, it can be protected from the cold inside the house.