- Mature height
- 2m to 4m
- Mature width
- 1.5m to 3m
Camellia sasanqua ‘Mine No Yuki’, sold as the white sasanqua camellia, carries semi double to loose peony form white flowers with a gold centre through autumn and winter. The name translates as snow on the mountain. Foliage is small, glossy and dark, on a dense frame with softly arching outer branches.
Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the cleanest white flowers, though it takes full sun in cooler districts. It wants a rich, well drained acidic soil with organic matter and steady moisture. Growth of 20 to 50 centimetres a year takes it to 2 to 3 metres each way. Light to moderate frost is tolerated.
The arching habit makes it a natural for espalier against a shaded wall, and it is equally common as an informal hedge, a screen, or a specimen in a courtyard. White flowers carry further than pink in low winter light, which is worth knowing when you are planting a dark corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
About White Sasanqua Camellia
What is Camellia sasanqua ‘Mine No Yuki’?
An evergreen flowering shrub with white semi double to peony form blooms, widely sold in Australia simply as the white sasanqua. The habit is dense but softer than most sasanquas, with outer branches that arch rather than stand upright, which is why it trains so well against a wall.
What colour are the flowers and when do they appear?
Pure white with a boss of gold stamens, opening from autumn through winter, roughly April to July. Individual flowers last only a few days and drop cleanly rather than browning on the bush, and buds keep opening in waves so the shrub carries flower for months on end.
Does it need sun or shade?
Morning sun with shade in the afternoon is the ideal, because strong afternoon sun marks white petals more visibly than coloured ones. In Melbourne, Hobart and the tablelands it handles full sun without trouble. It will also flower in dappled shade, though less heavily than in an open position.
Can it be espaliered?
Yes, and it is one of the better camellias for the job. The naturally arching branches lay flat against a frame or wires with little resistance. Tie down the leaders while they are young and flexible, prune the outward facing shoots after flowering, and allow three to four years to fill a panel.
Where does it grow best in Australia?
Cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical zones all suit it, along with sheltered coastal gardens away from direct salt spray. That takes in most of the southern and eastern seaboard and the ranges behind it. It needs acidic soil, so alkaline limestone country calls for raised beds or amended planting holes.
Is it drought tolerant?
It is moderately drought tolerant once well established, meaning it survives a dry summer but flowers poorly through the following season if it stays stressed. Camellia roots sit near the surface, so mulch matters as much as deep watering. Plan on supplementary water through the first two to three summers.
How do I care for Mine No Yuki?
Mulch with a coarse organic material, water deeply in dry spells, and feed with a camellia and azalea fertiliser after flowering and again in late summer. Prune in late winter as the last flowers fall. If leaves yellow between the veins, the soil is too alkaline and needs sulphur or iron chelate.
