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Key characteristics

Family: Theaceae
Height: 8 to 12 ft
Width: 4 to 8 ft
Flower color: Small, single flowers in white to very pale pink, sometimes lightly fragrant
Foliage color: Narrow, willow-like evergreen leaves, deep to glossy dark green, with new growth often flushed bronze to brown
Bloom time: Late winter through spring
Light: Bright shade to part shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; prune lightly after flowering to shape and remove dead branches
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Numerous small flowers offer nectar and pollen for early-season pollinators

Shrubs

Camellia tsaii var. synaptica

Elina Cascade Camellia

Camellia tsaii var. synaptica is an evergreen shrub with slender, pendulous branches and small, glossy leaves. Along the arching stems, many small, cup-shaped flowers open white with a blush of pale pink, often from rosy buds. Lightly scented blossoms appear in clusters in profusion from late winter into spring.

This variety is native to southwestern China, where it grows on forested mountain slopes, and entered cultivation through Asian selections.

Light

Bright shade to part shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late winter through spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Foundation Plantings
Specimen Plants
Woodland Gardens
Shade Gardens

Companion plants

Daphne · Brunnera · Tiarellas · Astilbe · Bleeding heart · Hellebore

Design tip

The graceful, weeping shape gives this camellia a lighter presence than more upright varieties, making it especially useful for softening rigid garden lines. Showcase its cascading branches near a wall, terrace, or garden turn where the silhouette can become part of the overall composition.