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The 'Japanese Camellia' ('''Camellia japonica''') is the best known species of Camellia. It is a flowering shrub or a small tree native to Japan, Korea and China.^[1]
In its natural habitats the wild plant of ''Camellia japonica'' grows to 6-9 meters (20-30 feet) tall. It has usually red, five-petalled flowers of 5-8 cm (2-3 in) diameter.
There are more than 2000 hybrids developed from ''Camellia japonica''. The shade of the flowers can vary from red to pink to white and sometimes have multi-coloured stripes or specks.^[2]
The cultivars of ''Camellia japonica'' include 'Elegans' with large pink flowers which often have white streaks, 'Guilio Nuccio' with red to pinkish petals and yellow stamens, and 'Mathotiana Alba' with pure white flowers.
''C. japonica'' leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera, such as The Engrailed (''Ectropis crepuscularia'').

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References

References

1. "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p 176-177. Könemann, 2004. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0
2. Nico Vermeulen:"The Complete Encyclopedia of Container Plants", p. 65-66. Rebo International, Netherlands, 1998. ISBN 90-366-1584-4