Is Camellia japonica an indoor or outdoor plant?

I've been seeing it used as an indoor plant for a long time and someone showed me how to water/fertilize it without causing stress damage that would harm the leaves/stems etc.

It has a lovely large leaf.

But today I came across a reference to it as an outdoor plant. I've now seen it used in many different ways; in gardens of old, in parks and children's playgrounds, near a statue etc. I'm very new to plants and all they do is confuse me more so any advice you can give me would be amazing!

I'd love to hear from anyone who owns it outside and what sort of plants around they've planted it in. And I'd also love to know where you found out it was meant for indoors? When you say outdoors, I assume you mean outside in a full sunlight and not like in backyards/garden and such which are considered semi-indoors - right? I also assume that the plant was meant for an outdoor environment even though you mentioned someone told you it wouldn't necessarily be okay - so if that is correct, then what is the indoor environment to support it? Does the plant need any extra care to provide suitable environment? When did you last see the plant? Can you describe the outdoor location where you saw it, or can you take a picture? Where you found out it was outdoor, and what information, articles etc were you reading online at that time? I'm not a plant expert and have read many books/articles on plants. My knowledge about it is basic at best.

I've been meaning to read "Aquarium Plants" but haven't got a chance, so I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right by trying to establish a good plant environment for my indoor camellia before buying it. It looks like the following: It's a white camellia. They are supposed to have bright leaves in summer/autumn but it appears to stay white.

What I am uncertain about is: (1) whether/when to trim it/deadhead. (2) how long to leave it in winter to avoid losing it's leaves.
(3) What to fertilize it with. So far I've used 10-20% of my standard fertiliser during summer, and it has always had 3-5cm leaves.

What is the difference between a camellia and a Camellia japonica?

Is this plant ever classified or misclassified?

How has it been viewed by Japanese botanists and horticulturists? In his article A Study of the Origin and History of Camellia japonica in Japan, Dr. Naito says that in botanical terms the camellia is the more correct botanical name and that the Japanese classifications of the species have been based on Japanese tradition.'

In an issue of Science (Vol. 154, p. 885), on January 25, 1966, Dr. Naito writes:

In 1691 Dr. Takayanagi first introduced the word 'camellia' to Japan from Latin Camellia. At that time the botanical concept of the genus Camellia had been formed, with about 30 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. As early as 1691, therefore, the scientific botanical names of Japanese camellia plants was Camellia japonica or 'Takaya.'

Since then it was considered that they were a member of the Anacyaceae Anacyclus japonicus. But because it was well established in Japan that it was classified into the family of Anacyclus of Anacydopsis, and that its botanical name was Camellia, they were treated as Camellia in Japan. However, according to the report of Dr. Naito and another published by The Royal Horticultural Society and published by G. Nutt, Lond. In 1970:

According to a well-known history, the name camellia derives from a Chinese merchant who imported seeds of the species in the early Middle Ages. The seeds, which are said to have come from Egypt, were brought to Japan by a Chinese merchant and cultivated in Japan.