Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Christmas camellia, Sazanka (サザンカ, 山茶花)

Family: Theaceae (Tea)

Synonym: Camellia oleifera

Distribution: China, Japan

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Comments: Camellia sasanqua has been cultivated in Japan since before the Edo period, with records of breeding first made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733) It was first brought to the west in 1820 by the Captain of an East Indiaman trading ship, who gave "Camellia sasanqua, var. stricata" to his relative in Kent, UK. Only in 1869 were more specimens brought to Europe by Dutch traders. In Japan it has a long history of use. Like the related tea plant (Camellia sinensis), the leaves were used to make tea. Tea seed oil for lighting, lubrication, cooking and cosmetic use was also made from the seeds.