'Shishi Gashira' Camellia

'Shishi Gashira'  at MSU-Meridian

The ‘Shishi Gashira’ camellia, a 2002 Mississippi Medallion award winner, is at near peak bloom around Meridian, MS.

'Shishi Gashira' as a pot plant.

‘Shishi Gashira’ camellia is a very slow-growing, evergreen shrub that can reach 5 feet tall but is more typically around 3 feet. Their small size makes them well-suited for pot culture. 

This camellia is known for its beautiful flowers and 6-8 week long blooming season. Dark, pink rose-form flowers 2-3 inches across are produced in abundance from November to early January.  Their waxy, dark green leaves coupled with the blooms make these camellias not only a good shrub but also good for use as foundation plantings or high-profile ground covers.

Although ‘Shishi Gashira’ blooms during the C. sasanqua season, it is considered to be a hybrid between C. japonica × C. sasanqua, referred to as Camellia x hiemalis.

If you can find these at a nursery now, buy it; cover the pot in festive paper; and give to a friend as a Christmas gift.  It will truly be a gift that keeps on giving.

Author's note:  In my previous post I stated that 'Yuletide' camellia was a C. sasanqua.  Others say that it is a C. vernalis  which is a hybrid.   I am not a taxonomist so I try to use the most reliable sources.  Most gardeners do not care.  They just enjoy the pretty flowers.