shrub

Sasanqua camellia 'Shishi Gashira'

Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Hardy in zones 7–9, Sasanqua camellia 'Shishi Gashira' is a slow-growing evergreen shrub. Expect 3–5 ft of height and 4–6 ft of spread; our lists space it 4.5 ft apart. It does best in full sun to part shade with average water. Expect pink flowers in October to December. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the structure role: a shrub that holds the bed's shape at the back all year. Deer may browse it when other food is short, and it is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in the Desert Southwest, the Mountain West and the Great Plains, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name: Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'
Plant type: Shrub, evergreen
Hardiness zones: 7 to 9
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours); Part sun (4–6 hours); Part shade (2–4 hours)
Water: Medium
Soil: Needs acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Mature size: 3–5 ft tall × 4–6 ft wide
Spacing: 4.5 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate: Slow
Bloom: Oct–Dec · pink
Roles in a bed: Structure
Styles: classic, cottage
Deer resistance: Medium: browsed when deer are hungry
Pets: Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Camellia is listed non-toxic to dogs and cats by the ASPCA.
Native to: Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price: 3-gallon pot, typically $30–$50 (easy to find)
Plant in: Spring or Fall
First-year watering: Water deeply once or twice a week through the first summer, more in heat waves, so the root ball never dries out.
Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter after the fall bloom.

Sources: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list; Southeastern extension deer-resistance lists (UGA, Clemson, UF/IFAS); state noxious weed lists / Invasive Plant Atlas of the US; typical 2026 US garden-centre and big-box listings. Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 9
What to plant in a part-shade bed in zone 9 (as a substitute)
Full-sun plants for zone 8 in Texas and Oklahoma (as a substitute)
Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 9, Florida (as a substitute)

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Sasanqua camellia 'Shishi Gashira', across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Sasanqua camellia 'Shishi Gashira': same role in the bed, passing the same rules. Some of them are flagged toxic to dogs or cats: check the pet note before you swap.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated November 12, 2026. How FloraVista chooses plants