camellia

American  

[kuh-meel-yuh, -mee-lee-uh] / kəˈmil yə, -ˈmi li ə /

noun

1. any of several shrubs of the genus Camellia, especially C. japonica, native to Asia, having glossy evergreen leaves and white, pink, red, or variegated roselike flowers.

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camellia British  

/ kəˈmiːlɪə /

noun

1. Also called: japonica.  any ornamental shrub of the Asian genus Camellia, esp C. japonica, having glossy evergreen leaves and showy roselike flowers, usually white, pink or red in colour: family Theaceae

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Etymology

Origin of camellia

1745–55; named after G. J. Camellus (1661–1706), Jesuit missionary, who brought it to Europe; -ia

Example Sentences

The writer lived and worked in her childhood home in Jackson, Miss.—tending to her camellias, doting on her nieces and quietly presiding for many years as the matriarch of Southern letters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some plants, such as blueberries, azaleas and camellias, prefer acidic soils, i.e., soils with a pH below 7.

From Los Angeles Times

Miraculously, the fire barely touched the area of the nursery where thousands of potted camellias and azaleas were ready for sale under a breezy wood-lathe framework covered by shade cloth.

From Los Angeles Times

Here are plants and flowers to enjoy, one for every month of the year, from lilacs, camellias and poinsettias to native buckwheat, wildflowers and toyon.

From Los Angeles Times

Descanso’s extraordinary camellia forest was created by former Los Angeles Daily News publisher and camellia collector E. Manchester Boddy under unhappy circumstances.

From Los Angeles Times