Northernmost Population of Common Camellias on Daecheongdo Island, Ongjin

The common camellia is an evergreen tree of the tea family, found in Korea, Japan, China and elsewhere. In Korea it grows along the southern coast and on the southern islands. Its flowers, which bloom in early spring, are very beautiful, and depending on the flowering season the tree is called chunbaek (spring camellia), chubaek (autumn camellia) or dongbaek (winter camellia). It is a tree of warm regions, and as the warm-temperate plant that grows furthest north, it serves as an indicator marking the boundary of the areas in which plants can grow according to average temperature. The natural camellia habitat on Daecheongdo Island was once damaged, and its numbers greatly reduced, during a period when camellias were illegally harvested nationwide. Records from about 60 years ago note 147 large trees with trunk diameters of up to 20 cm, including one specimen 3 m tall with a diameter of 27 cm. Today, however, such large trees are difficult to find. The Northernmost Population of Common Camellias on Daecheongdo Island, Ongjin, marks the northern limit at which the camellia can grow naturally, and in recognition of its scholarly value it is designated and protected as a natural monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Ongjin, Incheon

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물