SHREVEPORT, La. - As most flowers fade with the chill of winter, one Southern favorite is just getting started.

Camellias — prized for their glossy evergreen leaves and elegant blooms — are preparing to show off across the region.

At Akin's Nursery in Shreveport, owner Jennifer McGimsey says the question she gets most often is about the differences between the two main types: sasanqua and japonica .

“These are all camellias,” McGimsey explained. “The camellia sasanqua has smaller leaves and smaller blooms. They come in a variety of colors and can tolerate a little more sun.”

One sasanqua variety is a dwarf type that stays below five feet tall and produces pink blooms. Sasanquas typically bloom in November and December, though this year’s heat has caused some to flower early.

The

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