Camellia Flower

 Camellia,Camellia Flower, Camellia Japonica,White Camellia

Camellia is a genus (family of more than one) of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia from the Himalaya east to Japan and Indonesia.
Camellia species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. The Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon grew Camellia in all of her gardens.

The camellia flower means honest excellence. It told a Victorian lover, "My destiny is in your hands."
Camellia flower blight is a disease caused by the fungus Ciborinia camelliae. The fungus is capable of overwintering in the soil in the vicinity of affected plants.

It was first described in Japan in 1919 and has since spread to the USA, New Zealand and parts of mainland Europe. It was first found in the UK in 1999 and is now present quite widely through southern England, including at RHS Garden Wisley.

Flower blight is restricted to species of camellia, and affects no part of the plant other than the flowers. It is only found, therefore, while the plants are in flower.