Camellias

Camellia grijsii
Distribution: Chinese provinces of Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan and Guangxi.
The flowers are 5-6cm across, the six petals are white, flare out from the centre, widely spaced, with a distinct taper to the base, wavy notched margins, light in structure and easily damaged; produced at the tips or shoots or in the axils of leaves along the stems.
Leaves are 3-6.4cm long and 1.6-3.2cm wide, tough and leathery in texture, with impressed veins on the upper surface; pointed tips and sharp serrations.
It makes a small tree up to 3m, with well spaced branches.
Winter to Spring.
This species has been found to be surprisingly hardy, not fully frost hardy but capable of withstanding -2C for brief periods.