The snow camellia was discovered in Niigata Prefecture in 1950 and named by Dr. Shoji Honda. It grows in mountainous areas along the Sea of Japan, including the Hokuriku (North Central) and Tohoku (Northeastern) regions.
The small trees thrive even in deep snow, a trait that is said to represent the people Niigata.
Perhaps its pink blossoms were an added enticement when the snow camellia was designated the official tree on August 27, 1966.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
