Camellia japonica

Japanese Camellia, Camellia

Message of the Flower

Static Beauty

The Mother’s Comment

Transfixed in an immutable beauty.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Let beauty be your constant ideal.

The beauty of the soul

The beauty of sentiments

The beauty of thoughts

The beauty of the action

The beauty in the work

so that nothing comes out of your hands which is not an expression of pure and harmonious beauty.

And the Divine Help shall always be with you.

The Mother, On Education: Curriculum

In the world of forms a violation of Beauty is as great a fault as a violation of Truth in the world of ideas. For Beauty is the worship Nature offers to the supreme Master of the universe; Beauty is the divine language in forms. And a consciousness of the Divine which is not translated externally by an understanding and expression of Beauty would be an incomplete consciousness.

The Mother, Prayers and Meditations: January 29, 1917

Delight is the soul of existence, beauty the intense impression, the concentrated form of delight.

Sri Aurobindo, The Future Poetry: The Soul of Poetic Delight and Beauty

Beauty is Ananda taking form—but the form need not be a physical shape. One speaks of a beautiful thought, a beautiful act, a beautiful soul. What we speak of as beauty is Ananda in manifestation.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Poetry and Art: Art, Beauty and Ananda

Beauty is the special divine Manifestation in the physical as Truth is in the mind, Love in the heart, Power in the vital. Supramental beauty is the highest divine beauty manifesting in Matter.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Poetry and Art: Beauty

The one rule of the gnostic life would be the self-expression of the Spirit, the will of the Divine Being; that will, that self-expression could manifest through extreme simplicity or through extreme complexity and opulence or in their natural balance,—for beauty and plenitude, a hidden sweetness and laughter in things, a sunshine and gladness of life are also powers and expressions of the Spirit.

Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine - II: The Divine Life

Beauty is his footprint showing us where he has passed, Love is his heart-beats' rhythm in mortal breasts, Happiness the smile on his adorable face.

Sri Aurobindo, Savitri - I: The Kingdom of Subtle Matter

Colour

Wide range, including white, pink, red, and variegated patterns

Family

Theaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Alba Plena', 'Pink Perfection', 'Black Lace', and 'Brushfield's Yellow'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Typically 3-5 inches in diameter

Flower Texture

Smooth, waxy

Number of Petals

Varies; single forms have 5-7 petals, doubles can have many more

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical

Fragrance of Flower

Some varieties are fragrant, while others have little to no scent

Leaf Texture

Glossy, leathery

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Dark green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Evergreen shrub or small tree

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late winter to early spring

Climate

Temperate

Water Requirements

Prefers consistent moisture, well-drained soil

Soil Type

Acidic, well-drained, rich in organic matter

Temperature Ranges

Hardy to USDA zones 7-9

Sun or Shade

Partial shade; sheltered from intense afternoon sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to camellia petal blight, scale insects, and root rot

Pollinators

Attracts bees

Habitat

Native to Japan, Korea, and China

Role in the Ecosystem

Ornamental use, provides pollen for bees

Ornamental

Highly valued for landscaping, container gardening, and as specimen plants

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mainly ornamental; camellia oil used in various beauty products

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated