Camellia japonica de Higo Fuji

The  'Fuji' Camellia is part of a group of Japanese camellias originating from the province of Higo. All of these varieties are renowned for the beauty of their large flowers with prominent stamens, which the Samurai deeply admired. 'Fuji', robust and hardy, adorned with large white corollas sporting a beautiful heart of yellow stamens, is the best among the white-flowered Higo varieties. Its winter blooms spread across foliage of shiny dark green that is elegant throughout the year. Like other Japanese camellias it is cultivated in the ground or in pots, in partial shade, in a fresh, slightly acidic soil, and blooms even in dense shade. 

The Higo Camellia 'Fuji', introduced in Japan before 1958, belongs to the Theaceae family, like its ancestor Camellia japonica. It is a bushy and branching shrub which will reach about 1.30 m (4 ft) in height and 1.10 m (3.7 ft) in width after 10 years. At maturity, after 15 to 20 years, it can measure up to 1.75 m (5-6 ft) in height and 1.50 m (5 ft) in width, depending on the growing conditions. From January to March it produces large rounded flower buds. They open into flowers measuring 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) in diameter, composed of 5 to 6 wide and rounded petals surrounding a heart that boasts no fewer than 150 to 200 long pale yellow stamens. The foliage, which persists throughout the year, consists of large elliptical leaves, 10 cm (4 in) long by 5 cm (2 in) wide, leathery, finely toothed along the edges. Their colour is a dark and glossy green on top, sometimes slightly variegated with light yellow. While this shrub is hardy down to -15°C in the ground, its flower buds can be destroyed by snow, icy wind, and temperatures below -5°C.

Japanese Camellia 'Fuji' prefers rather mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It requires a partially shaded or even shaded site, sheltered from strong and dry winds. It can be planted e.g. in a shrub border, accompanied by other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons,  Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, Hamamelis or even Kalmia Latifolia. But it would be a shame to drown this variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place, near the entrance of the house or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in very cold climates.

A bit of history: In Japan, the camellia is called "tsubaki". The samurai had made the flower of the 'Higo tsubaki' - which grows in the shade of the forests on the northwest coast of Honshu - their prestigious emblem, most likely because its flower possesses a "generous heart," in line with their own courage. The Higo camellia varieties were given poetic names by these fearsome warriors, including "Fragrant Snowstorm," "Path of the Great Gate," "White Falcon," and "Pearl Light".