Kumasaka Camellia Japonica

Camellia japonica ‘Kumasaka’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 8-10′

Width at Maturity: 5-7′
Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedges; 9’+ for space between

Flower Color: Rose-Red with bright Golden Yellow stamens

Flower Size: Large, 4″

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Semi Double to Double

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Attracts: Visual Attention

Description

A heavy bloomer even at 1 year old, Kumasaka is a rare, hard to find Camellia japonica that has demonstrated exceptional cold tolerance to USDA Zone 6a. It is prized for its absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking semi to fully double deep pinkish red flowers with center petaloids that look as though they’ve been tipped in white with a paint brush. The flowers appear in late winter and continue through early spring. To enjoy them inside the home take cuttings and display several of them in a vase or take just one of the flowers and float it in a bowl of water.

Landscape & Garden Uses

A moderate growing Camellia with an upright habit of growth to about 8-10 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide, Kumaska can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub, it is ideal for use as a hedge or background plant, in groupings, and is especially nice as espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall.) When “limbed up” to form a small tree it serves well as an attractive and colorful specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. Great for cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors overwinter for those who live above USDA Zone 6a, where not winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedge; 9’+ for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Camellia is not winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Camellias…

Planting Camellias

Pruning Camellias

How To Fertilize & Water Camellias

How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

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I order the 3-gallon size. They were a little small, which is perfect for my application. Still they were very, very healthy – exceptional foliage and well-developed roots for a plant of that size (the standard for Wilson Bros.). There are a few examples of these in my area at an arboretum and also a neighbor. Looking forward to enjoying these for years to come. Really glad I chose the oldest known camellia in cultivation!————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered two separate rounds of various Camellias. Both times I received the plants in a very timely manner. Both groups of plants ordered were healthy plus had tags with plant names. They were packed well and nothing was lost removing them from the shipping boxes. I highly recommend Wilson Brothers for all your plant needs.————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This plant is definitely typical of other plants I have Recieved from Wilson Bros. It is large, full and very healthy. I have been experimenting with growing winter hardy camellias with great success. This one will be a great addition to our garden. I’m glad to have resource like Wilson Bros.————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope yall enjoy them all for years to come! Thanks so much for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered a Japanese maple and three camellias this spring. They are all just gorgeous! I am beyond pleased…just waiting until our last frost date to put them in the ground. But they are currently perfectly happy.—————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Great item! Wonderful service in quality, meticulous packing, and speedy delivery.——————————————–Thanks for the kind words! We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂