 Typically they will grow about 30 cm per year until mature – though this does vary depending on their variety and geographical location.Camellia plants are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of "Lepidoptera" species; see List of Lepidoptera that feed on Camellia.Leaves of the Japanese camellia ("C. japonica") are susceptible to the fungal parasite "Mycelia sterile" (see below for the significance).