Camellia Sasanqua 'Setsugekka'
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Setsugekka Camellia / Camellia Wavy White / Camellia Moon and Flowers
Botanical Name: Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'
Family: Theaceae
Origin: East Asia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A beloved sasanqua with large, ruffled single white blooms and bright golden stamens that appear autumn to early winter. Flowers are lightly fragrant. Dense, glossy deep-green foliage and a naturally upright, elegant habit make it superb for hedges, screens, espaliers or specimen planting. Thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with morning sun/afternoon shade in hot districts.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 2-4 m H x 2-3 m W
- Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Glossy deep green; new growth may flush bronze
- Flowers: Large single white, ruffled petals, lightly fragrant; autumn–early winter
- Seasonal Interest: Early-season flowering when few shrubs are in bloom; year-round evergreen structure
- Wildlife Value: Provides shelter for small birds; pollen for beneficial insects
- Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light–moderate frost (protect from hard frost)
- Planting Density: Hedge/Privacy: ~1 plant per metre (0.7 m for a very tight hedge); Specimen/Screen: 1.2–1.5 m apart
- Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best with morning sun, afternoon shade in hot summers)
- Soil: Well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic loam/sandy loam
- Water Needs: Establishment—deep soak 2×/week for 8–12 weeks. Established—regular weekly deep watering in summer; minimal in winter
- Maintenance: Mulch annually, light prune after flowering to shape, and feed with acid-loving fertiliser in early spring and again after flowering
- Lifespan: 30-60+ years
- Climate Zones: Well suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA gardens; sheltered coastal sites
- Soil pH: Acid to neutral
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Privacy hedge/screen with refined finish
- Espalier against fences or walls in narrow beds
- Feature shrub near entries, patios and shaded courtyards
Why You Will Love It
Elegant snow-white blooms in the cooler months, a neat evergreen hedge the rest of the year, and low fuss once established—perfect for classic structure and seasonal impact