The effect of cytokinins (BAP, MemT, TDZ) and GA₃ as well as different sucrose concentrations (5, 10, 20, and 30 g l^-1) on the axillary shoot multiplication of Camellia japonica L. was investigated. The highest multiplication rate (3.4 shoots/basal explants and 2.4 shoots/apical explants) and high shoot quality were obtained on the WPM medium supplemented with adenine cytokinin (MemT or BAP) combined with TDZ and GA₃. Thidiazuron, added to adenine-type cytokinin medium at a concentration of 0.1-0.05 mg l^-1 significantly enhanced the shoot branching. GA₃ stimulated the growth of axillary buds induced by TDZ and improved shoot quality. It was also found that optimal sucrose level during multiplication of C. japonica shoots was 10-20 g l^-1. In the presence of low sucrose (5 g l^-1) the induction of hyperhydricity was observed, while sucrose added at 30 g l^-1 inhibited shoot formation. GA₃ (1.0 mg l^-1) added to the medium containing cytokinins (BAP + TDZ or MemT + TDZ) and high sucrose concentration counteracted the sugar-mediated inhibition of shoot formation. The best rooting response was obtained with a 20-min pulse treatment with IBA (1 g l^-1) and culturing the shoots on auxin-free half strength WPM medium containing activated charcoal.