Kicho
A pale yellow japonica × chrysantha hybrid from Ishikawa Prefecture — one of the earliest successful crosses with the golden camellia of China.
One of the earliest successful hybrids involving C. chrysantha — the celebrated golden camellia of southern China whose discovery in the 1960s electrified the camellia world with the prospect of truly yellow garden camellias. Originated by Tadao Yamaguchi of Tsurugi-chō, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, from a cross with C. japonica 'Haku-arashi-saga,' the five-centimeter cup-shaped single flowers achieve pale yellow (comparable to 'Shokō'), with pink coloring in the bud. Importantly, the hybrid proved fertile — opening the door to further breeding. Leaves resemble japonica, thirteen by five centimeters. Early flowering. Source: International Camellia Register.