Camellia azalea, native to the Ehuangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve in Yangchun City, Guangdong, China, is a national first-class protected plant in China.
Description
Vegetative characteristics It is a small tree or an evergreen shrub, and grows up to 4 meters tall. Generative characteristics
The plant tends to grow bright red flowers that can be found in clusters of 1 to 5 and of a size of 9-10cm in diameter.
Taxonomy It was described by Chao Fen Wei in 1986.Camellia azalea C.F.Wei. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/930896-1
Distribution and habitat It is endemic to Yangchun, Guangdong, ChinaCamellia azalea in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242309885 where it grows in hilly forests among rocks along rivers at elevations of 100–500 m above sea level.
Conservation Camellia azalea is a critically endangered species.
Common names The Chinese name of Camellia azalea is 杜鹃叶山茶/Rhododendron leaf camellia (dù juān yè shān chá), because of its rhododendron-like leaf shape. Compared with other camellia species, the flower of Camellia azalea is more like Rhododendron, so it is commonly known as 杜鹃红山茶/Rhododendron red camellia. It is also commonly known as 四季紅山茶/Four Seasons Red Camellia or 四季茶花/Four Seasons Camellia, because it can flower throughout the year, July-September is the most prosperous period of flowering, which is different from the habit of Camellia flowering in winter.
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