Name: Camellia sasanqua 'Shi Shi Gashira' (Shi Shi Gashira Compact Camellia)

Average Landscape Size: 4–5 ft tall × 4–5 ft wide; can reach 8 ft unpruned; compact, dense habit

Sun Requirements: Partial shade to partial sun; more sun tolerant than japonicas

Water Needs: Moderate; somewhat drought tolerant once established, good drainage essential

Deer Resistance: Low, Deer will browse on these when hungry

Cold Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–9; evergreen in Houston-area winters, very reliable

Fertilization & Pruning: Acid-loving plant food in early spring; prune immediately after flowering in late fall/winter

Detailed Description: This is the perfect camellia for smaller spaces! Shi Shi Gashira stays naturally compact at 4–5 feet, making it absolutely perfect for foundation plantings or anywhere you need a manageable size. The rose-red blooms appear in fall, giving you gorgeous color when most everything else is winding down for winter. Here in our area, it's incredibly reliable and actually more sun-tolerant than the larger japonicas. The best part? It's naturally tidy and doesn't require much pruning to keep that perfect shape. This is the camellia that fits beautifully into any landscape without taking over!