Higo Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua)

What are the characteristics of Higo Sazanka?

How is it different from other camellia flowers?

Single large plum blossom
Single large petal with a large golden center
Flower size is 5-15cm
Also double and thousand-petal
30-50 petals! So many that you can't see the center!

What is the color of the flower?

Red, White, Pink, Shibori (Nishiki, Variegated)

How many varieties are there? 40 varieties

A wide variety of flower shapes, sizes, and colors

Where to Enjoy Higo Sazanka!

Flowering Time : November to December

Higo Sazanka flowers in bloom!

Come see the flowers in full bloom!

Kumamoto Prefectural General Athletic Park, Higo Sazanka Street

Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Garden, Higo Rokka Corner.

Suizenji Jojuen : Flower bed in front of the main gate torii gate

Recreational space. Next to the Yabusame horse riding ground

Higo Hosokawa Garden (in Tokyo)

History of Higo Sazanka

Sazanka has been used as a source of oil since ancient times, and is the most recent of the Higo Rokka
1756: Cultivated at Banshien, the Imperial Herbal Garden. The feudal lord Hosokawa Shigetaka recommended its cultivation as a medicinal herb → Gradually it was cultivated for decorative purposes
1865 ~ Yamazaki Sadatsugu, a flower artist and head of the Kumamoto Iris Mangetsukai, repeatedly selects seeds
1879: Creates the famous flower "Yamazaki Ohnishiki", the first Higo Sazanka! As the varieties were improved, new flowers were created one after another.
1900: New cultivars. Kimishiro, Benibotan, Ozora, Wakanoura, and Hinotsukasa.
1902: The flower association Bankokai was organized.

The members continue to cultivate the flowers.

1967: The Higo Sazanka Association was established, and we are working to preserve the pure Higo Sazanka!

Representative flower : Yamazaki Ohnishiki

A magnificent gradation of flower colors!

The center is white, with a gradation,

and the color becomes bright red toward the edge, and the back is a deep red!

Higo Sazanka Association

Cultivation, preservation, improvement, and dissemination of pure flower varieties

Now recruiting members!

November Higo Camellia Exhibition

Held every year since the association was founded!

*17 members (1 overseas, Germany)

Reference : Kumamoto City Green Meister Team Ladybug.

Kumamoto Castle (Official) photo gallery

Higo Bank , Higo Rokka web site.
Higo Sazanka catalogue, by Higo Sazanka Association