Common camellia or Sasanqua camellia: how to tell them apart?
Common camellia and Sasanqua camellia look alike and are often mixed up. Here is how to tell them apart, feature by feature, with their photos and the details to look for.
⚡ The quick answer
Common camellia
Camellia japonica
Sasanqua camellia
Camellia sasanqua
Sasanqua camellia flowers in autumn and winter with smaller leaves, whereas common camellia flowers in spring with larger leaves and often more double flowers.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, oval, leathery, glossy dark green
Evergreen, oval, leathery, glossy, smaller than those of common camellia
🌸 Flowers
Large, single or double, red, pink or white, unscented
Single or semi-double, white, pink or red, fragrant, appearing in autumn
🍎 Fruits
Brown woody capsule, rarely seen in cool climates
Small woody capsule
🪵 Bark
Smooth grey trunk and twigs
Grey, smooth
📏 Size
2 to 5 m tall, often less in cold climates
2 to 4 m tall
🗺️ Habitat
Gardens, acid soils, sheltered from scorching sun
Planted as a specimen or hedge in gardens, acid, moist soils
⚠️ Toxicity
No known toxicity.
No notable toxicity known
🔎 And from the Sasanqua camellia side
Sasanqua camellia flowers in autumn and winter with smaller leaves, whereas common camellia flowers in spring with larger leaves and often more double flowers.
🌿 Go further
Want to practise spotting these details on real photos? Floraneo offers profiles and quizzes for dozens of look-alike species.
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.