Camellia is one of the most adored flowers across the world. This flowering plant belongs to the family of ‘Theaceae’ blossoming in winter and spring. The flowers are waxy and are seen in pink, white and red colours. This perennial plant can either be a tree or a shrub. Not only the flowers, the glossy dark green decorative leaves capture one’s attention as well.

Camellia is found to be grown in the East Asia and South Asia right from the Himalayas to Japan and Indonesia. The plant can be grown very easily without much care. It grows well in acidic or neutral soils but can thrive on soils which are slightly limey but fertile and well drained. It requires partial shade for best growth.

Due to their beautiful and attractive appearance, camellias were, and still are, appreciated as garden plants and are used in landscaping and as garden borders. Camellia has secured its place in works of art in China and Japan since time immemorial. The leaves of certain species of camellia are made into tea. Again, the seeds of some other species are processed to make tea oil which is used for cooking.