ABSTRACT
The Camellia is an evergreen shrub with ovate or elliptic dark green, shiny, alternate leaves. The large showy flowers are colored red, white, or pink and typically have five to seven petals, numerous stamens, and the fruit is a capsule. Camellia seedlings have a long juvenile period that lasts for 4 to 8 years when they are grown under natural conditions. Flower initiation is strongly influenced by temperature; many cvs failed to initiate flowers when the night temperature was 15.6°C or lower and most flower buds were formed, and formed quickly, when the night temperature was between 24 and 27°C. The camellia is cultivated for cut-flower production, as a flowering pot-plant, and as an ornamental garden shrub, and can be propagated by seed, or air layering. Shading reduces the number of flower buds formed, while high soil fertility increases it, it is especially important that nitrogen levels are adequate, though high levels can cause shedding of flower buds.
