Shishi Gashira Camellia
Camellia sasanqua ‘Shishi Gashira’Camellia sasanqua Shishi Gashira brings late-season vibrancy to the garden with its baby pink semi-double flowers flecked with bright yellow centers. These blooms emerge in fall and can continue into early winter, offering color when few other shrubs are in flower. The evergreen, glossy foliage remains attractive throughout the year, providing structure and year-round interest.
This cultivar performs best in filtered sun or light shade and is more forgiving of sun exposure than typical Camellia japonica. Despite this tolerance, afternoon sun in hot climates can scorch foliage, especially in zone 9 or hotter summer regions. Moderate heat and drought require careful siting and mulching to maintain leaf health and bud set.
Shishi Gashira’s elegant form, compact size, and late bloom season make it an excellent choice for foundation plantings, low hedges, mixed borders, or woodland gardens. It can also be grown in containers or trained as espalier. With light pruning after flowering and occasional feeding with acid-loving plant fertilizer, it remains tidy and floriferous for many seasons.
Care Instructions:
Planting: Choose a sheltered location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant in well-drained, acidic, organically-rich soil.
Watering: Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season, keeping soil evenly moist but not soggy. Once established, water only during dry spells.
Pruning: Lightly prune immediately after flowering to shape or remove spent blooms; avoid pruning later in the season to protect next year’s buds. No heavy pruning is needed.
Pest Control: Generally trouble-free. Watch for tea scale; treat early in crawler stage with horticultural oil or insecticide as needed. Good air circulation helps prevent fungal issues.
Soil Tips: Maintain slightly acidic pH (~5.0–6.0). Add organic mulch (pine bark or leaf mold) to retain moisture and insulate roots. Avoid alkaline soils unless acidified.
