How to Tell Camellia and Sasanqua Apart? A Few Methods to Distinguish Them

Differences Between Camellia and Sasanqua in Terms of Natural Attributes

Camellia, also called camellia flower, is a flowering plant in the family Theaceae and the genus Camellia. The camellia flower is full and elegant in form, dignified and grand, and is one of China's ten traditional famous flowers, as well as a flower known throughout the world. Sasanqua is also a flowering plant in the family Theaceae and the genus Camellia. Because its flower form combines the characteristics of both camellia and plum blossom, it is called sasanqua. The sasanqua flower is also a flower of great aesthetic value.

Differences Between Camellia and Sasanqua in Terms of Morphological Characteristics

Camellia leaves are relatively thin, the leaf shape is relatively large, the tree form also tends to be thick and sturdy, and the branches and stems are slender; camellia is an evergreen broad-leaved shrub, with alternate leaves and serrated edges, and the flowers generally grow at the tips of branches and leaves or in the leaf axils.

Sasanqua leaves are relatively smaller and rounder, the leaves are dark green, the tree form is relatively shorter and smaller than the camellia tree, the branches are compact and shorter, and the leaves are thicker and fuller by comparison. The crown is spherical or oblate, the leaves are commonly elliptical or oblong-ovate, and the leaf surface is quite glossy, lush and emerald green.

Differences Between Camellia and Sasanqua in Terms of Growing Regions

In China, camellia mainly grows in the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins; sasanqua is mainly produced in China's Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and other provinces along the rivers and in the south, and is a suitable tree species for the subtropics.

Distinguishing Camellia and Sasanqua by Flower Characteristics

In terms of flower size, camellia flowers are larger and have more colors, with brilliant hues; sasanqua flowers are relatively smaller and have relatively single colors. In addition, it should be noted that the flowering period of camellia is from January to March, while the flowering period of sasanqua is from November to January of the following year, which is to say that when the sasanqua flowers fall, it is about the time the camellia flowers bloom. The most typical difference between the two is the way the flowers fall: sasanqua flowers scatter petal by petal; camellia flowers wither whole, flower by flower.

The above are the differences between the two. The first two pictures are camellia, and the last two pictures are sasanqua. Is everyone clear now?