Niigata's Prefectural Tree: Yuki Tsubaki (Snow Camellia)

Yesterday I wrote about Niigata's prefectural flower (the tulip), but we also have an official prefectural tree, and it might be an even better symbol of life here in snow country. It's the yuki tsubaki, or snow camellia.

It was first identified in Niigata back in 1950, and it's pretty different from camellias found in warmer regions of the country. It grows in mountainous regions below about 1500 meters, and the trees themselves stay relatively small. In heavy snow areas, their branches grow low to the ground, which I have to imagine is probably by virtue of the fact that they're regularly being weighed down!

I think the combo of the snow and the petals looks so pretty, and I think it's a good choice as our prefectural tree.

Do you know what your prefectural tree is?