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Description
The Camellia.

While the popular meaning in Victorian flower symbolism generates roughly to "gratitude, loveliness, good luck, admiration and perfection", the literal meaning depends on the color. In this case, the pink camellia's message is, "longing for you".

At the same time, Chinese belief holds that,

"The symmetrical beauty and long-lasting quality of the flowers have long been appreciated by young lovers as the token for expressing devotion to each other. In the eyes of the Chinese, the petals reflect the spirit of a lady, and the holder of the petals (the calyx) represents the young man entrusted by the lady as her protector.

The calyx of the camellia falls with the petals when the flower has finished blooming. This is unlike most other flowers, where the calyx seems to hang around the tree even after the petals have dropped. This phenomenon symbolizes an everlasting union between lovers. In many parts of China, the camellia is considered as the flower for young sons and daughters." [link]

The Japanese have a different take on it, however. Death is the symbolized meaning as Basho seems to indicate in his haiku, "Falling Upon Earth":

Falling upon earth,
Pure water spills from the cup
Of the camellia.

"Line 1

The subject of “Falling Upon Earth” is readily apparent. In a rural setting, perhaps upon an isolated Japanese mountain, the observer sees rain water fall from the white petals of the camellia blossom. However, from the word choice, imagery, and what we know of Bashõ’s style, this haiku likely has a deeper meaning; it is not merely a description of nature. Dew or rain water on camellia blossoms was probably not an unusual sight and yet clearly Bashõ finds great symbolism in the scene. Some background information will make the poem’s meaning clearer. In Japanese literature the camellia flower symbolizes the samurai warrior, a professional soldier in feudal Japan who was charged with the task of defending his clan leader. Samurai, like the knights of Europe, often had short lives. The flower of the camellia plant also has a short life and after a few days falls to the earth in one piece, reminiscent of the fallen soldier. Bashõ had trained as a samurai until his samurai master and friend died unexpectedly at a young age. Bashõ begins the first line of his poem with a dramatic verb that sets a somber tone: falling. It is even more ominous because we do not know what is falling to the earth and this ambiguity strengthens the poem’s allegorical message. Instead of using the less formal word “ground” Bashõ chooses “earth,” perhaps to connote images of death and burial, as if the soldier is returning to the earth.

Lines 2-3

The subject of the poem, found at the beginning of line two, is very significant. Bashõ does not simply say “water” but adds the adjective “ pure,” suggesting that it is a worthy, even blameless person who has died. In line two Bashõ employs another strong verb: “spills.” This verb evokes a sense of finality, unexpectedness, and regret. Unlike such alternative words as “drops” or “ pores,” the word “spills” matches the dramatic tone of the first line and completes Bashõ’s allegory of a life ended unexpectedly."

[link]

Description
The Camellia.

While the popular meaning in Victorian flower symbolism generates roughly to "gratitude, loveliness, good luck, admiration and perfection", the literal meaning depends on the color. In this case, the pink camellia's message is, "longing for you".

At the same time, Chinese belief holds that,

"The symmetrical beauty and long-lasting quality of the flowers have long been appreciated by young lovers as the token for expressing devotion to each other. In the eyes of the Chinese, the petals reflect the spirit of a lady, and the holder of the petals (the calyx) represents the young man entrusted by the lady as her protector.

The calyx of the camellia falls with the petals when the flower has finished blooming. This is unlike most other flowers, where the calyx seems to hang around the tree even after the petals have dropped. This phenomenon symbolizes an everlasting union between lovers. In many parts of China, the camellia is considered as the flower for young sons and daughters." [link]

The Japanese have a different take on it, however. Death is the symbolized meaning as Basho seems to indicate in his haiku, "Falling Upon Earth":

Falling upon earth,
Pure water spills from the cup
Of the camellia.

"Line 1

The subject of “Falling Upon Earth” is readily apparent. In a rural setting, perhaps upon an isolated Japanese mountain, the observer sees rain water fall from the white petals of the camellia blossom. However, from the word choice, imagery, and what we know of Bashõ’s style, this haiku likely has a deeper meaning; it is not merely a description of nature. Dew or rain water on camellia blossoms was probably not an unusual sight and yet clearly Bashõ finds great symbolism in the scene. Some background information will make the poem’s meaning clearer. In Japanese literature the camellia flower symbolizes the samurai warrior, a professional soldier in feudal Japan who was charged with the task of defending his clan leader. Samurai, like the knights of Europe, often had short lives. The flower of the camellia plant also has a short life and after a few days falls to the earth in one piece, reminiscent of the fallen soldier. Bashõ had trained as a samurai until his samurai master and friend died unexpectedly at a young age. Bashõ begins the first line of his poem with a dramatic verb that sets a somber tone: falling. It is even more ominous because we do not know what is falling to the earth and this ambiguity strengthens the poem’s allegorical message. Instead of using the less formal word “ground” Bashõ chooses “earth,” perhaps to connote images of death and burial, as if the soldier is returning to the earth.

Lines 2-3

The subject of the poem, found at the beginning of line two, is very significant. Bashõ does not simply say “water” but adds the adjective “ pure,” suggesting that it is a worthy, even blameless person who has died. In line two Bashõ employs another strong verb: “spills.” This verb evokes a sense of finality, unexpectedness, and regret. Unlike such alternative words as “drops” or “ pores,” the word “spills” matches the dramatic tone of the first line and completes Bashõ’s allegory of a life ended unexpectedly."

[link]