Fall-Blooming ‘Setsugekka’ and ‘Kanjiro’ Camellias Are Recent Additions to the Garden
By Corinne Kennedy
Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ is one of two sasanqua cultivars recently added to the northeast corner of Seattle Japanese Garden. As young plants, they may not bloom for several years. (photo: Corinne Kennedy)
In all seasons, the Seattle Japanese Garden reveals that change is a constant—here and in all gardens. Long-time visitors will notice a dramatic change in our Garden’s northeast corner, sheltered by tall conifers and dominated for decades by many large rhododendrons. The conifers remain, but in the last few years four rhododendrons have been removed, having reached the end of their lifespans. This apparent loss is also an opportunity, allowing Senior Gardener Peter Putnicki to replace the rhododendrons with camellias, plants traditionally planted in the gardens of Japan. They are also more likely to adapt to our changing climate.
Many “true” rhododendrons as well as azaleas (also in the genus Rhododendron) were planted in 1960, when the Garden was created. The former, though not used in the gardens of Japan, were planted here because the Garden’s creators were unable to source most of the broadleaf evergreens characteristic of Japanese gardens. “True” rhododendrons were readily available in the Pacific Northwest and thus served as substitutes in 1960 and in the Garden’s early years. Fortunately, in the decades since, a much broader palette of plants has become available, including camellias and other broadleaf evergreens native to Japan.
In recent years, three fall-blooming sasanqua camellias have been planted in the northwest corner, replacing the four rhododendrons. All three are cultivars (cultivated varieties)—two young plants of Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’, and one young plant of Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro’. With these additions, there are now twelve sasanqua camellias in the Garden, including several cultivars as well as species plants. Although they’re less well-known than the spring-blooming species, Camellia japonica, their autumn flowers bring a delicate beauty and evocative fragrance to our Garden.
Camellia sasanqua:
Camellia sasanqua is a showy broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree in the tea family (Theaceae). The genus name, Camellia, was derived in 1706 from the name of Georg Josef Kamel, a Jesuit missionary and naturalist who introduced Philippine native plants into Europe.
This species, known as sasanqua camellia, is endemic to Japan in Okinawa, Kyushu, and southeastern Honshu. Its native habitat is primarily near the coast and in low-elevation evergreen forests, but it also grows at higher elevations, in association with azaleas and hollies. The umbrella term “sasanquas” also includes two additional species—Camellia x hiemalis and Camellia x vernalis—and some sasanqua cultivars are referred to by more than one of these species’ names (see discussion of Camellia ‘Kanjiro’, below). I believe that this is a botanical technicality that most of us can feel free to ignore: the three species are closely related, and some experts consider the latter two to be ancient, naturally occurring hybrids with Camellia sasanqua in their parentage.
Mature sasanqua camellias bloom for about six weeks, beginning in fall and sometimes lasting into winter. The flowers—often with a delicate fragrance—are usually single, white, and relatively small (1.5-3 inches wide). They consist of five or six petals, often fluted or ruffled. Some plants have semi-double and/or pink flowers. In their center is a broad mass of yellow stamens. Each flower lasts for a few days, but drops cleanly when spent, so plants maintain their attractive appearance without time-consuming “dead heading” (removing the spent flowers by hand). Fruit capsules are rounded, becoming brown and woody when ripe.
The habit of Camellia sasanqua is upright, with fine, twiggy growth—more graceful and open than that of Camellia japonica. It usually grows quickly when young, but at maturity is generally smaller (about 15 feet tall) than the latter. Its narrow, tapered, somewhat less “leathery” leaves are evergreen, a lustrous dark green, finely toothed, and 1-3 inches long. Plants take well to pruning and can be trained as attractive focal-point shrubs or small trees, as hedges, or as espalier (created by training the branches of a tree or shrub to grow flat against a lattice or wall).
Although hardy to about 5 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA Zone 7b), sasanqua camellias nonetheless need careful siting in cooler climates, such as the Pacific Northwest. They grow best in moist, acidic, organically rich, well-drained soil. To flower well, they require a warm, sheltered location (but not reflected heat), with at least partial sun. Site them where they won’t receive early morning sun to prevent foliage and flowers from being damaged by early frosts. Well-established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, but do best with regular watering during dry weather, especially in late summer when flower buds are set.
When well-grown, sasanqua camellias are relatively free of disease and insect problems, with leaf virus, sooty mold, and scale most likely. They are more resistant than japonica camellias to phytophthora root rot.
In Japan, Camellia sasanqua has been cultivated since ancient times—initially for practical purposes (producing tea from the leaves, and oils for cooking or cosmetics from the seeds). By the 14th century, ornamental cultivars were prized. Ancient trees in Kyoto gardens are estimated to be over 400 years old. Traditionally, the Japanese view this species and its cultivars as more graceful and refined than Camellia japonica (tsubaki, which means “camellia flower”). In fact, the Japanese common name, sazanka (from which the species word, sasanqua, was derived) means “plum-flowered tea” and reveals that Camellia sasanqua wasn’t seen as a camellia but as a completely different plant.
By the 19th century, cultivation of sasanqua camellias had spread to Great Britain, the United States, and the warmer areas of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the number of Camellia japonica cultivars that have been developed (over 10,000) far exceeds the number of sasanquas (cultivars numbering only in the hundreds). Of course, many are no longer available.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’:
The elegant flower and foliage of Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’. (photo: Barbara Goodman, Durham County, North Carolina; Creative Commons 4.0)
Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ is a fragrant, white-flowered cultivar and my personal favorite of the fall-blooming camellias. Its beauty is captured evocatively in the following description:
“This elegant fall blooming camellia has large pristine white semi-double flowers with golden centers of bright stamens. The 4” inch wide flowers are borne a few at a time from early autumn to the end of December. The glossy, dark evergreen foliage covers lax flowing branches that are easy to train as an espalier or on to a trellis. The flowers have an exquisite and unusual fragrance with earthy undertones.” (https://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/view/263)
In Japanese, the word setsugekka consists of 3 kanji characters (雪月花), meaning “snow, moon, and flowers.” Alternate cultivar names include ‘Snow’ and ‘Moon and Flowers’. Although a Japanese source mentions the cultivar name in 1979, its origin and parentage are unknown.
‘Setsugekka’ is hardy to at least 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and unlike some white-flowered woody plants, will tolerate full sun if planted out of hot, reflected heat. But like other sasanquas, it grows best with at least some shade. The ten-year size of well-grown plants is about 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide. ‘Setsugekka’ can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub, it works well as a specimen plant, a foundation plant, or planted singly or in groups in beds and borders. It also makes an excellent hedge, screen, or espalier. As plants grow taller, attractive focal-point trees can be created by removal of their lower branches.
“One of the most successful and spectacular of the autumn/winter blooming camellias,” according to Portland grower Xera Plants, ‘Setsugekka’ is readily available at local nurseries.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro’
Flowers and foliage of the sasanqua camellia ‘Kanjiro’. (photo: Daderot, in Stuttgart, Germany; Creative Commons 1.0)
'Kanjiro’ is an exceptional, profusely flowering camellia with an upright growth habit (more rounded with age) and somewhat pendulous side branches. A tough and dependable selection, hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, its ten-year size is about 8 feet tall and wide. Like ‘Setsugekka’, it can be grown as a shrub or small tree and works well as a focal point, foundation or border plant, hedge, screen, or espalier. The attractive foliage remains a glossy dark green throughout the year. Beautiful, lightly fragrant, semi-double pink blooms open from mid fall into winter. Three to four inches wide, they consist of bright cerise-pink petals with deeper edges and a center of golden stamens.
This 1954 introduction, bred in Japan by E. Takii & Co., also goes by the cultivar names ‘Beni-sazanka,’ ‘Hiryu’, ‘Kanchilang’, ‘Kankobai’, ‘Nagoya-sazanka’, ‘Tachikan-tsubaki’, and ‘Utamakura’. It is commonly available in the Pacific Northwest, where it is sold as ‘Kanjiro’. Although often referred to as a Camellia sasanqua, ‘Kanjiro’ is listed by some authorities as a selection of Camellia x hiemalis.
A mature Camellia sasanqua in the Seattle Japanese Garden:
Camellia sasanqua ‘Tago-no-Tsuki’, next to the Garden’s original gate. (photo: Aleks Monk, Oct. 2014)
The Garden’s two new sasanqua cultivars are young and may not flower for several years, so I’ve included the above photo of a mature sasanqua, Camellia sasanqua ‘Tago-no-Tsuki’, to help readers visualize what the young plants will become. I look forward to their growth and maturity—the subtle, elegant beauty of their graceful habit, glossy dark green foliage, and the delicate flowers that last for just a few days.
Corinne Kennedy is a Garden Guide, frequent contributor to the Seattle Japanese Garden blog, and retired garden designer.