Hong Kong Camellia (Red Camellia)

The Hong Kong camellia (Red Camellia)

　　The Hong Kong camellia is a member of the Theaceae family. There are both red and white varieties of camellia. White camellias are usually potted plants, rarely found in the wild, and those that are wild have few flowers. Red camellias are not only beautiful in blossom, but their leaves are also charming. At the Lunar New Year flower markets, red camellias are also sold. Once purchased, they can bloom for a long time, and with good care, they may even continue flowering the following season.

　　There are both red and white camellias. In Hong Kong, white camellias are mostly potted and rarely found in the wild, and when they are, they produce few flowers. On the summit of Tai Mo Shan in the New Territories, there are wild camellia trees growing at an altitude of 3,000 feet. Their blossoms are small and dense — these are the famed Cloud and Mist Tea camellias.

　　In Hong Kong, red camellias can be found both in gardens and in the wild. This is one of the territory’s native wildflowers. They are shrubs that can grow up to 20–40 feet tall, bearing bright red flowers about two inches in diameter when fully bloomed, with yellow stamens at the center. Though not as magnificent as the double-petaled camellias native to Yunnan, they are still quite an attractive wild plant in Hong Kong. They begin blooming from late November onwards and continue until March of the following year.

　　Wild red camellias have a long history in Hong Kong. In 1849, Mr. A. Henry, who came to Hong Kong to collect plant specimens, already took note of these beautiful red-flowering trees. At the time, he only found three such trees, likely located above today’s Conduit Road. The following year, the more renowned botanist R. Fortune visited Hong Kong but could find only two. However, more than a hundred years later, wild red camellias are now quite common on Hong Kong’s hillsides. They can be seen on the hills of Happy Valley and along both sides of Pok Fu Lam Road. Near the Peak Tram station, on Lugard Road, there is also a very tall tree currently covered in bright red blooms. Even more can be found atop Old Aberdeen Road, where around fifty to sixty trees grow close together. This flower is protected under Hong Kong’s Wild Plants Protection Ordinance, which has contributed to its increasing population. These red camellias are commonly referred to as “Hong Kong Camellias.”

　　Red camellias are not only beautiful in flower, but their leaves are also quite lovely. Camellia leaves naturally have a waxy sheen. The new leaves of the red camellia, similar to those of the bellflower, can reflect many beautiful hues in the sunlight — ranging from glossy green and azure blue to deep purple.