True camellias are native to China and Japan, however they have been grown in the Southeastern U.S. as garden plants for many years. Camellia japonica and C. sasauqua are the most popular with many varieties and hybrids now available. C. japonica camellias are the most commonly planted and typically the most cold hardy.
Colors are now available in various shades from red to blues.
Many varieties are found in the Southeast and California, but new hybrids are doing well in both the Northeastern and Northwestern states. Deer might nibble on young plants or new sprouting limbs. There are fungi that may cause abnormal flower dropping and scale may occasionally attack weak or unhealthy plants. They can tolerate poor clay soils as long as it's acidic. They will grow more robust in rich well drained acidic soils.