09/15/2026
Camellia bloom season is just around the corner. Fall weather and cooler temperatures are on the way.
Guess what’s coming soon……….?
Sasanquas blossoms! Yes, Sasanquas are the first camellia cultivar to bloom in the fall. They are a tough, low maintenance, evergreen shrub that blooms in vibrant colors from fall to early winter. Sasanquas can tolerate and thrive in full sun once their root systems are established, unlike the common Japanese camellia (camellia Japonica), which prefers deep shade or partial afternoon sun. Sasanquas have smaller leaves and the flowers carry a lovely scent. They are known for their vigorous, rapid growth and can be pruned to form beautiful flowering hedges or left to grow as small trees.
Wild sasanquas were first cultivated in the 1600’s in southern Japan and China. Sasanqua is derived from the Japanese word “sananka”, which literally means “mountain tea flower”. Today they are cherished and collected by many around the world. They can be seen in water gardens, stately mansions and walled gardens. Many are found throughout our neighborhoods. In October, we will begin to provide weekly a photograph of just a few of them growing in our own neighborhood with a location that hopefully you can drive by to see them from the street. There are many different varieties to chose from if you are in the market to brighten up your yard. Have fun this fall searching for camellia Sasanquas. And see how many you can find.
