Camellia japonica

The common camellia is an evergreen plant or small tree that is a member of the tea or Theaceae family and is native to Japan, China and South Korea. It can reach a height of about 6 m tall.

• Leaves are simple, alternate, broad elliptic, 5–11 cm long and 2.5–6 cm broad, leathery, a pointed tip, with a finely serrated margin.
• Flowers are 5–7 cm diameter, with 5–8 white to petals in nature, but with many cultivars in a great variety of colours, shapes and sizes.