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Camellia japonica ‘Alba Superba’
Camellia japonica ‘Alba Superba’
COMMON NAMES
Alba Superba Camellia
Camellia (kuh-MEEL-ee-uh) - named for Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706), a Jesuit pharmacist and botanist
japonica (juh-PON-ih-kuh) - Japanese
‘Alba Superba’ – cultivar name
GROUP
Dicot
FAMILY
Theaceae
ORIGIN
Europe
DESCRIPTION
Alba Superba Camellia is a woody shrub that averages 10 to 12 feet in height with a 6 to 8 foot spread. Its habit of growth is upright and bushy. It has a slow to moderate growth rate.
Leaves are evergreen, glossy, elliptic in shape, simple with serrate margins, about 3 to 3 1/2 
inches long, and dark green in color.
The flowers are an average of 4 to 4 1/2 inches across, semi-double, and white in color. It usually blooms from mid December to April (mid to late-season).
Fruit are round capsules, 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter.
HARDINESS
It is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, down to about 5 degrees F.
LIGHT
Full sun in cooler areas; filtered sun and shade in warmer areas
SALT
Poor Salt Spray Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a coastal area as it has minimal tolerance. It would require multiple layers of protection such as in a greenhouse, indoors, or in a small enclosed area such as a courtyard beyond the dunes.
SOIL
It prefers rich, organic soil, but it will tolerate other soils in the acidic pH range of 5.0 to 6.5. It suffers from chlorosis on alkaline soils. It is not fond of overly wet soils.
WATERING
It has moderate drought tolerance once established, but the best growth and flowering will come with irrigation in dry spells.
PROPAGATION
Hardwood cuttings taken in late spring –put under mist and with a rooting hormone will root in 2 to 3 months at around 70 to 80 degrees F; air layering
PRUNING
Major pruning should be done in early spring before first growth flush. There may be a period of time after major pruning that the plant won’t have as many blooms as normal as it is focusing its energy on the regrowth of foliage. Minor pruning of dead stems or light reshaping can be done at most any time while paying attention to flower buds.
FERTILIZING
It likes an acid soil, so depending on what your soil pH is (a soil test is good for determining this important factor), you may need to use a slow release acid forming fertilizer with minor elements. There are specialty fertilizer blends for Camellias and Azaleas in most markets. It is good to provide the first feeding a few weeks before new buds begin to swell. Always follow the label instructions for the product you are using.
PESTS
Tea Scale - University of Florida
Florida Red Scale - University of Florida
Oyster Shell Scale - US Department of Agriculture
Greedy Scale - University of Hawaii
Southern Red Mite - University of Florida
Twospotted Spider Mite - University of Florida
Tea Red Spider Mite - Plantwise
Aphids - University of California
Fuller Rose Beetle - University of Florida
Black Vine Weevil - Cornell University
Strawberry Root Weevil - Oregon State University
Citrus Mealybug - University of Florida
Long-tailed Mealybug - University of Florida
DISEASES
Botryosphaeria Canker and Dieback - Virginia Cooperative Extension
Exobasidium Leaf Gall - Louisiana State University
Camellia Flower/Petal Blight - Weekend Gardener
Camellia Canker and Dieback - Alabama Cooperative Extension
Armillaria Root Rot - University of Florida
Camellia Root Rot - American Camellia Society
Sudden Oak Death and Ramorum Blight - University of Arkansas
Botrytis Blight or Gray Mold - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Scab - American Camellia Society
Viruses - American Camellia Society
DEER
Rarely bothered
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
OTHER
It likes to be mulched to keep roots cool.
This cultivar has been around since the 1840’s, originating in Europe and eventually making its way to South Carolina, USA.
USES
Foundation planting, seasonal color accent, screening, woodland edges, specimen plant, trained as a small tree
ASPCA lists Camellia japonica as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
California Poison Control lists Camellia japonica as non-toxic.