General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 8 feet
Plant Spread: 6 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Size: 3"-4"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Pollinators: Bees

Image
Common names
  • Japanese Camellia
  • Common Camellia
  • Camellia
Also sold as:
  • Professor Sargent
  • Professor Charles Sargent

Photo Gallery
Location: j c raulston arboretum, ncsu,  raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2024-01-30
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-03-10
Location: South Carolina
Date: 2019-03-03
Location: Fountain Florida
Date: 2020-01-16
Location: Charleston, SC
'Professor Sargent' has large, light-to-mid-green leaves that loo
Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2019-02-06
Camellia 'Professor Sargent' blooming at Hampton Park
Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2019-02-12
'Professor Sargent' has a strong and attractive growth habit.
Location: j c raulston arboretum, ncsu,  raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2024-02-06
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-02-12
Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2014-01-06
Location: j c raulston arboretum, ncsu,  raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2024-02-10
Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-02-22
Location: Fairfax, VA
Location: Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Savannah, GA
Date: 2022-12-09
Location: j c raulston arboretum, raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2020-01-04
Location: Hotelholman/Normaltown 
Date: 2021-03-27
Professor Sargent
Location: Fairfax, VA
Location: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Date: 2019-12-31
Location: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Date: 2019-12-27
Location: In my garden, Archer, Florida
Date: 2022-02-18

Date: c. 1908
photo of Camellia 'Professor Sargent' in 'Country Life in America
Location: Fairfax, VA
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-01-05

Photo courtesy of Camellia Forest Nursery
Location: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Date: 2019-12-27
Location: j c raulston arboretum, ncsu,  raleigh, north carolina
Date: 2024-02-17
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
in my memory garden
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-11-10
Camellia japonica 'Professor Satgent' 001
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Comments:
  • Posted by scvirginia on Feb 11, 2022 10:58 PM concerning plant:
    It's hard to imagine a better 'starter camellia' than 'Professor Sargent'. It has a long bloom season here (cusp of zones 8b/9a) with blooms usually beginning in November and carrying on until March. The blooming will pause during freezes, but will then resume quite quickly. It is floriferous, grows quickly (for a camellia, that is), and becomes an unusually handsome large shrub or small tree.

    As with all camellias, don't plant it too deeply or in alkaline soil, and protect it from wind and full sun.
  • Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Dec 13, 2011 1:08 PM concerning plant:
    This camellia is a heritage plant. The blooms are anemone form. It usually blooms twice a year for me.

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