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Camellia japonica de Higo Okan

Camellia japonica de Higo Okan
Japanese Camellia, Rose of winter

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A Camellia from Japan's Higo Province. It is a very compact bush that offers large white corollas bordered with cherry red and adorned with a large heart of yellow stamens. It blooms from February to April and has dark green glossy foliage, elegant throughout the year. Like other Japanese camellias it is cultivated in partial shade, in slightly moist soil with a tendency towards acidity. Very hardy, it tolerates dense shade.
Flower size
12 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
80 cm
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September
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Flowering time February to April
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Description

The 'Okan' Camellia is part of a group of Japanese camellias originating from the Japanese province of Higo. All of these varieties are renowned for the beauty of their large flowers with prominent stamens for which the Samurai held a deep admiration. 'Okan', a compact variety, is adorned with large, single, white flowers, more or less edged with cherry red. Its early and prolonged flowering appears on foliage of glossy dark green, elegant throughout the year. It is grown, like other Japanese camellias, in open ground or in a container, in partial shade, in a cool, slightly acidic soil, and even blooms in dense shade.

The Higo Camellia 'Okan' belongs to the family of Theaceae, like its ancestor Camellia japonica. It is a bushy, branched shrub that reaches about 80 cm (32 in) in all directions by the age of 10. From February to April it produces large, rounded floral buds. They open into flowers measuring 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) in diameter, cup-shaped, composed of 5 to 6 wide, rounded petals surrounding a centre with no less than 150 to 200 long, pale yellow stamens. The foliage, which persists throughout the year, consists of large, elliptical leaves, 10 cm (4 in) long by 5 cm (2 in) wide, leathery, finely toothed along the edges. Their colour is a dark, glossy green on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -15 °C in open ground, its floral buds can be destroyed by snow, icy wind, and temperatures below -5 °C.

Camellia japonica 'Okan' favours rather mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It requires a partially shaded to shaded site, sheltered from strong, drying winds. It can be planted e.g. in a shrub bed, alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, Hamamelis or even Kalmia Latifolia. But it would be a shame to drown this variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place, near the entrance of the house or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in very cold climates.

A bit of history: In Japan, the camellia is called "tsubaki". The samurai made the flower of the 'Higo tsubaki' - which grows in the shade of the forests on the northwest coast of Honshu - their prestigious emblem, most likely because its flower has a "generous heart", in line with their own courage. The Higo camellia varieties were given poetic names by these formidable warriors, including "Scented Snowstorm","Path of the Great Gate", "White Falcon", and "Pearl Light".

Camellia japonica de Higo Okan in pictures

Camellia japonica de Higo Okan (Flowering) Flowering
Camellia japonica de Higo Okan (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 80 cm
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour two-tone
Flowering time February to April
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 12 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Camellia

Species

japonica

Cultivar

de Higo Okan

Family

Theaceae

Other common names

Japanese Camellia, Rose of winter

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference173471

Planting and care

Camellia japonica Okan appreciates partial shade or even shade, protected from strong, cold, and dry winds. Plant in a fresh, humus-rich, acidic, and well-drained soil. The bush should not be planted too deeply; cover the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1.2 in) of soil. In winter, cover it with a 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) thick mulch composed of leaf compost and crushed bark. Beware of late frosts that can damage the flowers and buds. Water during dry periods to prevent the bush dropping its flower buds. It is recommended to plant camellias in autumn to promote good rooting and better flowering from the first year. Possible diseases include chlorosis caused by excess limestone, brown spots caused by burns on leaves exposed to full sun, sooty mould, scale insects, and weevils.

Camellias tolerate container cultivation well, their root system forming a dense but shallow network of root hairs. Annual repotting in a slightly larger pot is sufficient. Regularly feed your potted camellia and preferably water it with non-chalky water. If the water in your region is limestone-rich, add a teaspoon of sequestered iron to the watering can every 3 months, from spring to autumn.

Pruning is not necessary but if required should be done sparingly just after flowering, before the emergence of new spring shoots. Most camellia hybrids do not recover from hard pruning.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Border, Free-standing, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well-drained, rich

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not necessary but if required should be done sparingly just after flowering, before the emergence of new spring shoots. Most camellia hybrids do not recover from hard pruning.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time April to May
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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