Strolling through a floral carpet in the mist – Camellia sasanqua blooms on Yangmingshan

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

In the misty woods, the air carries the fragrance of flowers, and the ground is covered with layers of fallen camellia sasanqua petals that weave beautiful carpets—truly a feast for the eyes. Every year in November, when the air turns slightly crisp, it’s the time when camellia sasanqua blossoms are at their most vibrant and beautiful. Countless colorful blooms emerge to show off their beauty, making it hard not to lose yourself in this enchanting camellia garden.

In fact, camellia sasanqua is a type of camellia, but its flowers combine characteristics of both camellia and plum blossom, hence the somewhat misleading name. Moreover, camellia sasanqua is often confused with camellia japonica due to their similar appearance. The easiest way to tell them apart is by observing how their flowers fall—camellia japonica sheds its entire flower along with the stamens, while camellia sasanqua petals drop one by one. Sometimes, with a gentle breeze, you might be lucky enough to witness the legendary "petal rain," or from a distance, see the ground covered in layers of purplish-red petals.

Camellia sasanqua flowers are usually in full bloom by November, with the blooming period lasting about two weeks (until late November). Welcome to visit the Floral Experiment Center on Yangde Boulevard and the Azalea and Camellia Garden in Yangmingshan Park, managed by the Parks Department, to admire them.