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Catalog Data

Life Form:
Evergreen shrub/sub-shrub
Bark Characteristics:
Gray-brown. Current year's branches: reddish brown
Bloom Characteristics:
Single flowers are white with 7-20 slightly twisted petels and yellow stamens. Flowers are 2-2.5" (5-6.4 cm) across.
Foliage Characteristics:
Simple, alternate, obovate to oblanceolate leaves are green and glossy with serrate margines. Leaves are 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) across.
Fragrance:
Fragrant flowers.
Fruit Characteristics:
Brown, round, woody capsule. Up to 1" (2.5 cm) in diameter. Ripen in October to November.
Plant Size:
10-20' tall x 10-15' wide (3-6 x 3-4.6 meters)
Structure:
Oval
Range:
Assam to S China and N Indo-China
Habitat:
forest hills; 650-5900ft (200-1800m)
Description:
This camellia species is an uncommon sight in American gardens, but highly important as an agricultural product in China and other Asian countries for over 2,000 years. While many gardeners think of camellias as valuable for their flowers, this camellia is actually most valued for its seeds. When the seed pods ripen and split open, oil can be pressed from the seeds which is used in high heat cooking, for cosmetics, medicinally, and for many other uses. This camellia is also the most cold-hardy of the genus, and has been used to breed camellia hybrids which can grow in USDA zone 6 with little injury. A useful and historic species, this plant is an interesting spot for any camellia aficionado.
Hardiness:
-10 - 30 F
Bloom Time:
March
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Oil is pressed from seeds and used in high heat cooking. Oil is also used for inks, lubricants, soaps, and cosmetics. Seed cakes are used to feed livestock and for fertilizer.
Provenance:
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Topic:
Display Gardens  Search this
Living Collections  Search this
Common Name:
Tea-oil camellia
Group:
[vascular plants]
Class:
Equisetopsida
Subclass:
Magnoliidae
Superorder:
Asteranae
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Theaceae
Genus:
Camellia
Species:
oleifera
Accession Number:
2022-0508A
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
Smithsonian Gardens Display Collection
On Display:
Enid A. Haupt Garden
Data Source:
Smithsonian Gardens
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax70ee7415e-986e-4cc8-a8b9-2a69f95e880d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2022-0508A