When Do Camellias Bloom in Jeju? A Winter Guide to Camellia Hill, Wimi and Namwon
Camellia season in Jeju runs from late November to early spring. The smaller sasanqua camellias open first, from late November, and are at their best in December and January, while Jeju's native red camellias follow from January and last into March. The best-known places to see them are Camellia Hill in Andeok on the southwest side, the Jeju Camellia Arboretum and the old camellia grove in Wimi, and Hueree and Camellia Forest in Namwon. Listed adult admission is 12,000 won at Camellia Hill, 8,000 won at the arboretum and 13,000 won at Hueree. Because the Namwon gardens sit among Seogwipo's tangerine farms, December is the easiest month to see camellias and pick tangerines on the same day.
When Do Camellias Bloom in Jeju?
Camellias are evergreen shrubs and trees that flower in the cold months, and on Jeju they are the main winter flower. Two kinds bloom one after the other, so the season is longer than most visitors expect.
- Sasanqua camellias (aegi dongbaek) come first. They have smaller pink and red flowers, start opening in late November and are at their fullest in December and January. Most of the trimmed, round camellia trees you see in Jeju photos are this kind. When they finish, the petals fall one by one and carpet the paths.
- Native camellias (Camellia japonica) follow. Their flowers are larger, deep red with a yellow center, and they bloom from January into March. They drop whole flowers rather than single petals, so the ground under an old native camellia is scattered with red blossoms in late winter.
Timing moves a little each year with the weather. A warm autumn pushes the first full bloom later into December. The gardens post their bloom status on their own social media accounts, so check the week before you go.
| Camellia spot | Area | Best time | Adult admission | Winter hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camellia Hill | Andeok, southwest Seogwipo | December to February, with some variety in bloom from autumn to spring | 12,000 won | 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry 5 p.m. |
| Jeju Camellia Arboretum | Wimi, Namwon | December to February | 8,000 won | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last ticket 5 p.m. |
| Wimi camellia grove | Wimi, Namwon | January to March (native camellias) | Check on site | Daytime |
| Hueree Natural Park | Sillye, Namwon | Late November to January | 13,000 won | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m. |
| Camellia Forest | Namwon | Late November to February | Small entry fee in season | Daytime, in camellia season |
Admission figures are each garden's listed adult rate. Jeju residents, children and groups pay less.
Camellia Hill: The Big Camellia Garden in the Southwest
Camellia Hill is the place most people mean when they say they're going to see camellias in Jeju. It's a large private arboretum in Andeok-myeon, in the southwest of Seogwipo, with around 6,000 camellia trees of about 500 varieties from 80 countries. Because the varieties flower at different times, something is in bloom from autumn to spring, but the garden is at its fullest from December to February.
What you'll find. Paths run between walls of camellias, past Jeju stone walls and a pond, with small photo props such as painted chairs and hanging garlands set along the way. In winter, the fallen petals turn the paths pink and red. A full loop takes about 40 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes, longer if you stop for photos at every turn, which most visitors do.
Tickets and hours. Visit Jeju lists adult admission at 12,000 won, with lower rates for teens, seniors and children. From November to February, the garden opens from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and ticket sales and entry close at 5 p.m. It's open every day of the year.
Getting there. Camellia Hill is on the west side of Seogwipo, far from the Namwon gardens in the east. Visit it on a day you're exploring the west, with Sanbangsan or the tea fields nearby, rather than trying to fit it into a Namwon day. A taxi or rental car is the practical choice. Arrive at opening on weekends; by late morning the narrow paths are busy.
Wimi: The Jeju Camellia Arboretum and the Old Camellia Grove
Wimi is a seaside village in Namwon-eup, east of Seogwipo city, and it has two camellia sites a five-minute walk apart.
Jeju Camellia Arboretum. This is the garden with the round, neatly trimmed sasanqua trees that fill Jeju's winter photos. A family began planting sasanqua cuttings on what was then a tangerine orchard in 1977, and the trees have since grown into a dense forest of rounded crowns. From December the trees turn red, and January and February are the peak, according to the arboretum. The arboretum lists adult admission at 8,000 won and opens daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last ticket at 5 p.m. Food and drinks aren't allowed inside, and you can't fly a drone without permission.
Wimi camellia grove. A short walk away is the older grove, designated a Jeju monument. More than a century ago, a local woman named Hyeon Maeng-chun planted native camellia seeds along the stone walls of her field to block the sea wind, and those trees became the tall grove you walk through today. It's a native camellia grove, so come from January to March for the deep red flowers.
Getting there. Buses 201, 231, 232 and 510 stop at the Dongbaek Sumogwon (Camellia Arboretum) bus stop in front of the entrance, according to the arboretum. Wimi Port is a few minutes' walk away if you want sea views before or after.
Hueree and Camellia Forest: Namwon's Camellia Gardens
A little further inland in Namwon are two more gardens that are easy to combine with Wimi.
Hueree Natural Park is a large garden in Sillye-ri that changes its flowers with the seasons, from canola and plum blossoms to hydrangeas, pink muhly and, in winter, camellias. In recent seasons, its camellia festival has opened in mid-November and run into January, so it's one of the first places on the island to have flowers in bloom. Visit Jeju lists adult admission at 13,000 won. From October to February, Hueree opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. It also has small animals, black pig programs and seasonal citrus picking, which makes it the easiest stop if you're traveling with children.
Camellia Forest is a private camellia garden in Namwon that opens to visitors in camellia season, from about November to February. Its paths run between tall sasanqua hedges and round trees. Entry costs a small fee in season. Check its social media for the current rate and opening days before you go.
All three Namwon gardens are a short taxi ride from each other. If you only have time for one, choose the arboretum for the round trees, Hueree for an easy day with kids, and Camellia Forest for a quieter walk.
How to See Camellias and Pick Tangerines on the Same Day
December is the month when camellia season and tangerine season overlap, and Namwon is the place to do both. The camellia gardens sit among Seogwipo's citrus farms, and you'll see yellow fruit on the trees right outside the garden walls. Our guide to tangerine picking in Jeju covers farm prices, what you get in a basket and which citrus to try.
A simple Namwon day:
- Morning: Go to the Jeju Camellia Arboretum at 9 a.m., before the tour groups, and walk to the old Wimi grove afterward.
- Late morning: Pick tangerines at a farm in Namwon. Most farms let you taste as you pick, so skip a big breakfast.
- Lunch: Eat near Wimi Port or in Namwon village.
- Afternoon: Visit Hueree or Camellia Forest. Winter light is soft and low after 2 p.m., which is when the camellias photograph best. Remember that Hueree's last entry is 4:30 p.m.
Winter tips. Jeju's south coast is mild, but the wind is strong and cold in December, so bring a windproof jacket. Wear shoes you don't mind getting dusty, because the garden paths are mostly earth and gravel. And book a taxi for the afternoon if you're not driving; buses run along the coast road, but the inland gardens are a walk from the nearest stop.
If you're planning a longer Jeju trip, our guide to Hallasan, oreum and the Olle trails covers the island's hikes, and our guide to Korea's December weather helps with packing.
Sol's Note
Don't chase peak bloom. A camellia garden in early December, with half the trees open and the first petals on the paths, is just as pretty as one at its fullest, and much quieter.
And look down as often as you look up. The fallen flowers are half the reason to come in winter.
