1.
camellia
An evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy leaves and showy flowers, blooming in late winter to early spring.
庭の椿が咲き始めた。
The camellias in the garden have started blooming.
椿の花は冬から春にかけて咲く。
Camellia flowers bloom from winter to spring.
椿油は髪に良い。
Camellia oil is good for hair.
椿 refers to camellia flowers and trees.
Common expressions:
- 椿油 (camellia oil - used for hair and cooking)
- 椿の花 (camellia flower)
- 赤い椿 (red camellia)
Counter: 本 (for trees/shrubs), 輪 (for flowers)
Cultural note:
Camellias bloom when little else does, making them significant in winter gardens. However, the way camellia flowers fall - dropping the entire bloom at once rather than petals - has led to associations with death and decapitation. For this reason, camellias are traditionally avoided as gifts for hospital patients or at funerals. 椿油 has been used in Japan for centuries as hair oil and is still popular today.