'Myōren-ji Tsubaki' (妙蓮寺椿) is a species of scarlet camellia, particularly popular in the Muromachi period. Tea masters favoured the flower, and Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) adored the camellias so much he praised them in poems.

winter wind-
camellia blossoms have fixed
their make-up
木がらしや椿は花の身づくろひ
-Kobayashi Issa, 1824.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

Although predominantly considered a winter plant, camellias can be seen blooming for a large part of the year (from late fall to mid-spring)

Camellia flowers inspire a mind-boggling number of traditional sweets.

The most famous, and one of the oldest (an early version featuring in 'The Tale of Genji'), is 'tsubaki-mochi' (椿餅). Camellia leaves adorn a sticky rice cake, but unlike sakura-mochi the leaves act as decoration only.

winter wind-
camellia blossoms have fixed
their make-up
木がらしや椿は花の身づくろひ
-Kobayashi Issa, 1824.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

Although predominantly considered a winter plant, camellias can be seen blooming for a large part of the year (from late fall to mid-spring)