What do the colors of camellias mean?

What is the spiritual significance of the camellia flower?

(K). The camellia, which has a round ball of bloom, is symbolic of the sun. A Japanese saying says: 'To have comellias and not to be in love with them, is to have comellias and not to be on the sun.' In the spring, in Japan, there is a custom of giving away camellias to women, which is called 'Ichigeki'. When a man makes a proposal to a woman, he can put a large camellia at the entrance of his house. If the woman accepts, she can return it after the coming of the next day. If she does not accept, the flower will wither. A similar custom exists in China. The Chinese say: 'When a woman receives a large camellia flower at her gate, she has to marry the man who brings it. When she refuses to receive the flower, her ancestors curse her with sickness and death.'

Camellias have been used to symbolize the true nature of women since ancient times. In the spring the true nature of a woman can be seen in a tree that blooms with camellias. This symbolism is illustrated in the poem: 'Sono Chichi no Matsuri, 'The Spring Festival of the Camellia' ('Toshio no koe', 'Poem by Toshio').

"Now you are as beautiful as a camellia - the camellia is flowering. I see you on my bed in the morning, like the blossom of the camellia. As I look at you, I am filled with a deep love for you. What do I think of?

What might the camellias symbolize?

To begin with, they are extremely beautiful and fragile plants, and that is how many see them.

They are so delicate that they should not be left unattended. They are considered symbolically to be related to women and their emotions. They are said to represent constancy and faithfulness.

The use of the camellia as a love token is probably associated with ancient Roman practice of using camellia blossoms to strew the floors of bridal chambers in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The plant is also said to be associated with funerary rites because of its beauty and association with death. The camellia is also associated with mourning because of its fragrance, which lingers for several days, and because of its association with death. The camellia is also a symbol of friendship and long life.

"A camellia, a rose, and a sprig of cypresswhich is to say, everything that is in bloom at once! And then, when all three have faded, the heart is still green. Its beauty is more than just its looks. The leaves are large, dark green, and very glossy. In late spring and early summer, it produces numerous small, deep pink flowers that are very pleasing to look at. It is a good plant for rock gardens, and its bright foliage is easily seen when it is growing against a wall or on a flat, rocky surface. The plant blooms in July and August and has no fragrance. It makes an excellent plant for borders and rock gardens. A few plants can be planted in early spring and will reseed.

What is the symbol of the camellia?

There are several stories about the origin of the symbol of the camellia.

The most common story is that it was a gift from a Persian king to a Greek, for the camellia's fragrance. The king was said to have chosen the camellia because of its fragrant scent and he sent it as a gift to the Greek court. He wanted the Greeks to know that the power of the Persians had passed on to his line, and that his descendants would remain great kings. However, the Greeks were never impressed by the gift, and the plant became their symbol of the folly of Persians.

Another theory states that the camellia was the favorite flower of the wife of the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, who lived in Greece during the first century B.C. It was her favorite flower, so she chose it as the symbol of her husband's love for her, and of the beauty of true love. Theophrastus' wife may be the person from whom the Greek god Apollo inherited the camellia as a gift from a god.

Other theories include: Camellia was the name of a beautiful Greek girl who, according to legend, was the first wife of Achilles, the greatest hero of the Trojan War. He fell in love with her while he was wounded at Troy. When he met her again after the war, he took her as his mistress, and they had a son named Camellius.
The name of the famous Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, who wrote in the 10th century D. The symbol is said to be the same as that of the rose, but I don't know if it's true.
The name of a beautiful woman of great beauty, who died in 1623.

What do the colors of camellias mean?

By Linda Williams.

"Camellia 'Little Star,' " by David Douglas. (click on image for a larger view). One of the things that's really special about camellias is their diversity of color. Each species has its own distinct look. With the Camellia japonica species, colors range from creamy white to tangerine and red-violet. And there are many beautiful shades in between! What do the camellia's colors mean?

Did you know: That each camellia flower contains 12 stamens and two pistils (male and female). And there are at least four different camellia species native to the United States. One species bears edible fruits, while others bear a lovely showy flower with a double petal at its center. There are more than 20 named cultivars of plants.

How do camellias get their distinctive colors? That when a camellia flower is open, it contains no petals, and a calyx. The calyx is the enlarged portion of the flower and is covered in a powdery substance known as gummy. When the calyx closes tightly, the gummy substance forms an intricate pattern that allows it to hold color.

Most camellias are named after their color. For example, 'Pink Perfection,' 'Snow White' and 'Sutherland' are names for a pink flower. A camellia named 'Snow White' is also pink but lighter in color. The 'Dark Beauty' is brown with a burgundy tone.

The names of camellias are often spelled phonetically, so they're not always easy to pronounce. But for those who are interested in camellia nomenclature, you can find camellia names spelled correctly and phonetically at Web sites such as the Cooperative Extension Service's camellia page and U-Va's site camellia.info. They also are used by gardeners who have comellias at their gardens.