Taki “Thousand-year” Camellia

The Taki Camellia is an ancient wild Japanese camellia in what was formerly known as the Taki region of Kyoto Prefecture, estimated at between 500 and 1,200 years old based on its trunk circumference of 3.26 meters. The center of the tree has rotted away, making an exact age impossible to determine. Its small single-layer deep crimson flowers with yellow centers bloom in March and April, earlier than many ornamental varieties. Sturdy bedrock beneath the tree protected it from landslides, and the steep terrain kept farmers from cultivating the spot. The tree was designated a Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Property in 1989 and is now supported with stone terraces, protective sheets, and wooden limb supports.