camellia

noun

ca·​mel·​lia kə-ˈmēl-yə 

: any of a genus (Camellia) of shrubs or trees of the tea family

especially : an ornamental greenhouse shrub (C. japonica) with glossy leaves and roselike flowers

Examples of camellia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Depending on your hardiness zone, shrubs and trees like forsythia, azaleas, camellias, redbuds, cherries, plums, dogwoods, and star magnolias are also putting on a show in gardens. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025

Its blend of antioxidant-rich oils derived from botanicals including sunflowers, olives, camellia, and green tea not only plumps skin but evens out any texture and discoloration concerns for an over more even, brighter complexion from your neck downwards. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 18 Feb. 2025

Dozens of exhibitors are slated to show off hundreds of camellias. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2025

Nuccio’s Nurseries’ famous camellias survived the Eaton fire. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Camellia, from Camellus (Georg Josef Kamel †1706 Moravian Jesuit missionary)

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for camellia

• melia
• telia
• adelia
• borrelia
• lobelia
• syringomyelia

Kids Definition

camellia

noun

ca·​mel·​lia kə-ˈmēl-yə 

: a greenhouse shrub that is related to the tea plant and has glossy evergreen leaves and showy roselike flowers