TheNaturePlanet

I believe many people have witnessed the beauty of plum blossoms. At the same time, many people have misidentified camellia sasanqua, which is also in the Theaceae family. Although these two kinds of flowers are relatively similar in appearance, in fact, they also have different characteristics. To distinguish camellia sasanqua from camellia in terms of appearance, first of all, there is a difference in plant size. Camellia plants are relatively tall, with thicker stems and branches. The height can be up to 15 meters. While camellia sasanqua plants are relatively short and small, with thin branches. The height is generally only up to 12 meters.
In terms of comparing the leaves, they also have differences. The leaves of camellia are relatively thin and large. The leaf size is about 5-10 cm in length and 2.5-5 cm in width. They are oval in shape, with dark green on the front and light green on the back. The lateral veins are obvious. While the leaves of camellia sasanqua are smaller and also oval. The leaf size is about 3-5 cm in length and 2-3 cm in width. But they are usually thicker. The color may change from dark green to brownish green. The number of lateral veins is relatively small and can only be seen on the underside.
Then they can also be distinguished by flower shape, flower color, and flower fragrance. The flowers of camellia are usually larger and trumpet-shaped. The colors are rich and diverse, including red, pink, white, etc. Most varieties have no obvious fragrance. While the flowers of camellia sasanqua are butterfly-shaped and the flower colors are relatively elegant. Commonly seen are white or pink. In terms of flower fragrance, camellia sasanqua has a faint fragrance.
In addition, camellia and camellia sasanqua also have differences in flowering period and fruits. Compared with camellia sasanqua, camellia has an earlier flowering period. In many cases, after camellia has completely fallen, camellia sasanqua begins to bloom slowly. In terms of fruit shape, they both bear round fruits. In terms of size, camellia is relatively large. The diameter of the fruit is about between 2.5-3 cm, while the diameter of camellia sasanqua is only about between 1.5-2 cm.
Finally, in terms of maintenance difficulty, camellia may require more care, such as appropriate light and well-drained soil. Camellia sasanqua is relatively shade-tolerant and has strong adaptability. It may be more suitable for beginners to maintain. Understanding these characteristics can help distinguish the two and choose to plant according to personal preferences and maintenance conditions.