Camellia is a genus of over 250 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees from North India to China and Japan south to Northern Indonesia, Java and Sumatra. Where winter-hardy they are beloved late winter to early spring flowers with elegant flowers and glossy, evergreen foliage.

Genus name honors Georg Joseph Camel (1661-1706), a German Jesuit missionary to the Philippines who was noted for his work on Oriental plants.

'Winter's Star' is an upright evergreen camellia that typically grows to 4-6' tall with a slightly larger spread. It was released into commerce in 1991 by the U.S. National Arboretum. Parents are Camellia oleifera x Camellia hiemalis 'Showa-no-sakae'. It is grown ornamentally for its leathery, slightly glossy, dark green foliage and its showy autumn flowers. Each six-petaled, violet-pink flower (to 3-4" across) has a center boss of bushy yellow stamens. Flowers bloom in fall (October-November).

Height (mature): 4-6 ft.

Width (mature): 5-7 ft.

Bloom Time: October to November

Flower Color: Violet-pink

Foliage Colors: Dark green

Sun: Partial sun to full shade