Camellia is a genus (family of more than one) of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia from the Himalaya east to Japan and Indonesia.

Camellia species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. The Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon grew Camellia in all of her gardens.

The camellia flower means honest excellence. It told a Victorian lover, "My destiny is in your hands."