When ever I use the word camellia to my design customers I know they are thinking about Japanese camellias, Camellia japonica, with the 3 to 6” flowers mainly in February through April.

Although they are spectacular, there is a group that is getting more and more recognition. That is the Sasanquas. In fact when I am discussing them with my design customers often I just call them sasanquas. This reduces the confusion. Sasanquas are smaller growing, finer textured, smaller flowered and bloom in October through January depending on the weather.

I tend to use a lot of them because we can chose from varieties like Shishi Gashira which generally stays spreading at two to three feet, Jean May and Cleopatra which are used as three to five foot lowering shrubs, Kanjiro which grows five to six feet and Setsugekka and Hana Jiman which can grow up to eight ft. tall.
They can take all but the hottest sun and seem to be tougher than Japanese Camellias.

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