Camellia yunnanensis

Camellia yunnanensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It belongs to the tea family, Theaceae. Its native range covers parts of southwest China. These include Yunnan, southwest Sichuan, and southwest Guizhou. It grows in mixed woods, pine forests, scrub, and thickets. Records place it in both forest and more open sites. Useful Tropical Plants gives elevations of 3,610–10,500 feet [1,100–3,200 metres].

Garden references give a height near 12 feet [3.6 metres]. The broader botanical range is 3–16 feet [1–5 metres]. Some plants reach 25 feet [7.5 metres]. It keeps its leaves through the year. New growth has a bronze tint. Gardeners grow the species as an ornamental plant. Its evergreen form suits woodland gardens and their edges. Dappled shade offers another setting supported by the growing notes.

Plants For A Future lists flowering from July to November. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers, but self-fertilization gives poor results. Flowers fertilized with their own pollen produce few seeds. Those seeds also have low viability. People gather the oil-rich seeds from wild plants. They also grow the species for this crop. The seeds yield an oil listed for edible use. This does not establish that whole seeds are edible.

For cultivation, choose moist soil that drains well. The species accepts sandy soil and loam. Woodland soil suits it, as does loam enriched with leaf mould. It prefers a pH between 5 and 7. Avoid lime-rich conditions. Light woodland shade matches its stated preference. It can also grow in sun, according to Plants For A Future. It favours wet summers and cool, drier winters with little frost. Sources report cold tolerance near 14°F [−10°C]. It can grow outdoors in milder parts of Britain.

Fresh seed can be sown in a greenhouse when ripe. Seedlings need light shade and cover through their first winter. Young plants also need protection during their first years outdoors. The sources list no known hazards or medicinal uses. They do not give species-specific pest or disease problems. Useful Tropical Plants reports a 2013 IUCN assessment of Least Concern. That account notes a broad range but uncertain population trends.