Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Camellia crapnelliana
Red Bark Camellia
Most camellias are grown for the flower. Camellia crapnelliana is grown for the bark as well: a smooth, peeling, coppery-red trunk that reads from a distance and holds interest through every season. It builds into a small evergreen tree of 5 to 7 metres with thick leathery leaves and large white flowers carried through autumn and winter.
It is a rare species in the wild, restricted to a handful of provinces in southern China and to northern Vietnam, and it needs the acidic, humus-rich, sheltered conditions of its native forest to perform.
Specifications
- Height5 to 7 metres
- Width3 to 5 metres
- Native toSouthern China and northern Vietnam
- FoliageThick, leathery, glossy dark green elliptic leaves; evergreen
- Growth rateSlow to moderate
Conditions
- SoilRequires acidic, humus-rich, free-draining soils; will not tolerate alkaline or saline ground
- LightFull sun to partial shade, with shelter from hot wind
- WaterModerate; needs consistent moisture and resents drying out
- ClimateThrives in humid subtropical and warm temperate regions
Additional Features
- FlowersLarge single white flowers with a boss of yellow stamens, from autumn into winter
- FruitLarge woody capsules, unusually big for the genus, persisting after flowering
- UsesFeature and specimen planting, courtyard trees, and sheltered park groupings
- SpacingPlant 4 to 5 metres apart, or set as an individual specimen
- Low MaintenanceLight shaping only; avoid hard pruning and keep the root zone mulched
- Pest ResistanceGenerally sound where drainage and airflow are good
- Seasonal AppealWinter flowers and year-round coppery bark give it two distinct seasons of interest
The Red Bark Camellia is a collector-grade specimen tree for sheltered, acidic, humid sites.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026