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Camellia Sasanqua Our Linda

Camellia sasanqua (ka-MEE-lee-ah sah-SAN-kwah)

Family: Theaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

'Our Linda' is a pink flowering cultivar in the Theaceae (tea) family that will add year-round interest to your garden. Larger blooms may be accomplished by removing all the buds from a cluster, except one. The remaining bud can flower into a larger flower. This low maintenance shrub can be pruned into a small tree, providing your garden an evergreen flowering tree. Because next year's blossoms will appear on old growth, pruning should be accomplished after this year's flowering has ended. Best grown in acidic soil in an area that receives protection from afternoon summer sun. Low acidity can lead to the yellowing of the foliage. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and spider mites are insects to watch out for. Locating the plant in areas that do not provide good drainage can lead to fungal diseases. Root rot, black mold, blight, canker, anthracnose and leaf spots are some of the disease that can be a problem when good drainage is lacking. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common camellia diseases and insect pests. More information on Camellia sasanqua .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 57 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Camellia 'Autumn Spirit' Camellia japonica 'White by the Gate' Magnolia x loebneri 'Spring Snow'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The 2.5-3" fragrant flowers have been described as resembling cotton candy.
Bloom time
Fall; Winter
Bark color
Dark Brown
Stem detail
A multi-stemmed shrub that can be pruned to take on the form of a small tree.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan and China
Wildlife value
Butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Buffer; Colorful; Fragrance; Screening
Food & Medicine

Uses (ethnobotany)

Landscape

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Near Septic; Pool/Hardscape; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Flowering Tree; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#pink flowers #flowering tree #wet soils intolerant #broadleaf #year-round interest #double flowers #evergreen shrub #small tree #humidity tolerant #semi-double flowers #broadleaf evergreen #shrub #flowering shrub #deer resistant #fragrant flowers #heat tolerant #frost tender #drought tolerant #shrub border
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage
Other problems
Purple Mite
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Humidity

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.