Camellia sasanqua 'Cleopatra' is a winter charm that dazzles the garden with its pink flowers. It is a member of the Theaceae family, which includes many other flowering plants. It has glossy green leaves that stay evergreen throughout the year. It is a slow grower, but it can reach impressive sizes over time. It likes to have some shade and shelter from harsh weather, and it rewards its caretakers with a multitude of lovely flowers that vary from light to dark pink. The flowers have a semi-double form, which means they have some smaller petals in the center surrounded by a row or two of larger petals. The flowers are fragrant and attract bees and butterflies. The cleopatra camellia is hardy in zones 7 to 9, and it needs a well-drained, acidic soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5 The cleopatra camellia belongs to the sasanqua species of camellia, which is one of the most popular flowering shrubs for late fall through early spring. The sasanqua species is native to Japan, Korea, and China, and has finer-textured foliage than other camellias. It blooms in a different season than its cousin C. japonica and is also more resistant to Phytophthora root rot.
