Japanese camellia Theaceae Camellia japonica

Leaf:Alternate, simple, evergreen, elliptical to ovate, 2 to 5 inches long, pointy tip, finely but sharply serrated, leathery, dark shiny green above, green below.
Flower:Attractive, with numerous rose like petals, color and shape (single, double, etc.) varies with cultivar, colors ranging from red, pink to white, centers with yellow anthers, 3 to 6 inches across, appearing in late fall through early spring.
Fruit:Dry, round, woody capsule 1/2 to 1 inch long (look like small cantaloupes), initially green but ripening in the fall to a light brown, not showy.
Twig:Moderately stout, light brown, glabrous; flower buds quite large (3/4 inch) with imbricate scales, fuzzy greenish brown, vegetative buds much smaller.
Bark:Smooth light brown to gray-brown.
Form:Large multi-branched shrub up to 15 feet.

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