Outline of Exhibition

Winter Flowers "Camellia Sasanqua"
Camellia sasanqua

The Camellia sasanqua is native to Japan and is one of few plants, including Camellia japonica, which color gardens during desolate wintry scenes. At the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, Camellia sasanqua has been exhibited since 2001 as part of the special program “traditional seasonal plants.” It also includes the unique varieties known as “Edo Camellia sasanqua” and “Higo Camellia sasanqua”.

Camellia sasanquas are broadly divided into three groups: the “Camellia sasanqua group,” which is close to the native species; the “Camellia x hiemalis group,” which is regarded as the seedling or progeny of Shishigashira; and the “Camellia x vernalis group,” which is regarded as a natural cross-breed of Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica or its progeny. Camellia sasanqua blooms from mid-October to February the following year by grouping it in the above-mentioned order. All these varieties were selected from variants of seedling, and it can be said that the methods for maintaining and spreading such varieties considerably characterize Japanese gardening culture.

At this Botanical Garden, focusing on the relationship between people and Camellia sasanqua from aspects of both genetic and cultural resources, we have studied living plants and historical materials together and exhibited the results. In this year’s program “Winter Flowers - Camellia sasanqua,” attention is directed to allied species as well as garden varieties of Camellia sasanqua, and Camellia japonica and Camellia oleifera in addition to Camellia sasanqua are introduced with panels.

Period Dec 4 (Tue), 2012- Jan 27 (Sun), 2013
Venue Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, National Museum of Japanese History
Admissions ¥100
Groups of 20 or more: ¥50 per person
* Free admission for children junior high school age and younger
* Free admission for high school students every Saturday
Hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (no entrance after 4:00 p.m.)
Closed Dec 10 (Mon), 17 (Mon), 25 (Tue),
Dec 27 (Thu), 2012- Jan 4 (Fri), 2013,
7 (Mon), 15 (Tue), and 21 (Mon)
Sponsor National Museum of Japanese History

Exhibition Lineup

In addition to the varieties donated to this Botanical Garden in the year 2000, those that have since been newly collected are also exhibited. Camellia sasanquas (75 varieties of Camellia sasanqua, 43 varieties of Camellia x hiemalis and 37 varieties of Camellia x vernalis), grown in potting at this Botanical Garden, are exhibited around the arbor and in the greenhouse and the marsh-reed screen exhibition site in the Botanical Garden. Some are also planted at the permanent exhibition space.

Also, with the focus on allied species as well as garden varieties of Camellia sasanqua, panels explaining about Camellia japonica and Camellia oleifera in addition to Camellia sasanqua are prepared and exhibited in the arbor.

Camellia sasanqua  Inazuma

Camellia sasanqua Inazuma

Camellia x hiemalis Hikumaotome

Camellia x hiemalis Hikumaotome

Camellia x hiemalis Hatsuhikari

Camellia x hiemalis Hatsuhikari

Camellia x vernalis Hoshihiryu

Camellia x vernalis Hoshihiryu

Note: Please note that items in the exhibition are subject to change.