Tulips aren’t the only famous flower. In the 1840s, the Camellia was thought to be the luxury flower, but that’s not to say that interest and buzz dipped over the years. Actually, the Camellia flower is more widely regarded than ever, carrying both the giant tea plus gifting industries behind its shoulders. Read on to find out more about this evergreen bloom, and its boom!
CAMELLIA FLOWER COLOURS, MEANING & GIFTING OCCASION
White Camellia Meaning
- Adoration
- Purity
- Good luck
When To Gift White Camellia
- Weddings
- Dates and anniversaries
- Funerals
Yellow Camellia Meaning
- Devotion
- Friendship
- Joy
When To Gift Yellow Camellia
- Siblings Day
- International Friendship Day
Red Camellia Meaning
- Passion
- Love
- Desire
When To Gift Red Camellia
- Valentine’s Day
- Dates and anniversaries
IMPORTANT GIFTING NOTES FOR CAMELLIA
Camellia For Gifting: Do's
- They’re not toxic to humans, dogs, or cats, which means if your recipient has children or fur babies, this is the go-to!
Camellia For Gifting: Don'ts
- Camellias aren’t hard to take care of, but can face infestation issues from insects such as aphids, mites, or scale. Making tea out of the bouquets you received is a huge no no.
CAMELLIA FLOWER CARE 101
Besides the aforementioned symbolisms, the Camellias have their own meanings in the East! It’s said to represent divinity, longevity and gratitude, making them a clear alternative for Mother’s Day, in case the Carnations are all out of stock.
Basic Care Steps For Cut Camellias
- Wash the vase cleanly with fresh water, and remove any foliage from the camellia stem that would be submerged in the vase’s water.
- Hold the bottom of the flower stem under water and cut it at an angle.
- Need more tips? Read our Flower Care Guide!
Additional Pro-Tips for Camellia Flower Care
- As you clean out your vase, add flower food to your water. Without this, your cut Camellia might only survive for a short 3 to 4 days.
- Camellias grow best in a cool area, keep them out of sunlight as much as possible. Change the water every other day, and make sure to trim a bit off the stems to get Camellias to last as long as possible.
CAMELLIA: A HISTORY
Before Camellias made their grand splash in Europe, they were grown in the bountiful gardens of China, their native country, and Japan. In fact, Camellias are so widely regarded that the Japanese have around 900 names for them! Even the German botanist Engelbert Kaempfer coined it the “Japan Rose”.
The first Camellias seen in England were grown by gardener Robert James, Lord Petre. With the boom of the tea trade in the late 18th century, new varieties of Camellias started popping up, imported through the British East India Company. Now that’s how you know this flower’s a VIP!
CAMELLIA VARIETIES
Today, the Camellia has many commercial cultivars, all selected for the taste of their leaves. Popular flower forms include:
Single
- Flower head is usually flat, bowl- or cup-shaped
Semi-double
- Two rows of petals
Formal double
- Rows of overlapping petals with hidden stamens
Rose form
- Rows of overlapping petals with showy stamens
Anemone form
- One or more rows of outer petals, with mixed petaloids and stamens
Paeony form
- Mass of irregular petals with hidden stamens
Now That We’ve Spilled The (Camellia) Tea…
Representing eternal love, affection, long-lasting devotion, admiration plus divinity, this tea flower’s made to be gifted, and what better way than to spring a surprise for Mother’s Day?
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