(Hybrid Camellia, Winter's Star Camellia)

Hardy camellias that will winter in areas such as southern New England are no longer a dream, thanks largely to the efforts of William L. Ackerman of the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., who crossed the hardy Chinese species Camellia oleifera with tender camellias to produce a group of beautiful and tough hybrids. The cultivar 'Winter's Star' bears large single violet-pink flowers in October and November. A starburst of yellow stamens ornaments their centers. It forms...

(Camellia, Yunnan Camellia)

The Yunnan camellia bears unusual funnel-like flowers of true red to reddish pink from late fall to midwinter. This evergreen shrub to small tree is native to the forested highlands of southern China. It is less favored as a landscape ornamental when compared to the many varieties of Japanese and sasanqua camellias, but its upright, open-branching habit and fall flowers are no less attractive. In China, the ripe seeds of Yunnan camellia are pressed to yield edible oil.

The elliptical leaves...

(Snow Camellia)

Snow camellia is a slow-growing, long-lived, upright evergreen shrub prized for its late-fall to winter blooms. Known only in cultivation, it may have originated as a hybrid of Camellia sasanqua. Leaves are oval, dark green and glossy, with toothed edges. Small pink, rose-red, or white blooms appear from late fall into winter, with some cultivars having scented blooms. The flowers are somewhat heavier-textured and their bloom period is typically later and longer than those of the sasanquas....

(Chansonette Camellia, Snow Camellia)

The 'Chansonette' cultivar of snow camellia is an upright evergreen shrub native to eastern and southern continental Asia. Its miniature, bright pink, formal double (extra-petaled) flowers appear in midwinter to very early spring. Petal edges are frilled, mimicking the look of sasanqua camellia flowers. The glossy, dark green and leathery leaves are pointed ovals with teethed edges.

Plant this snow camellia in moist, acidic, humus-rich soil. It does best in bright partial shade, but will tolerate...

(Green's Blues Camellia, Snow Camellia)

Distinguished by the unusual lavender-blue color of its fading flowers, this low-growing camellia bears its small, double, "rose-form" blooms from late fall to midwinter. An open-pollinated seedling of Camellia hiemalis 'Shishigashira', 'Green's Blues' was selected by Bobby Green of Green Nurseries, Fairhope, Alabama. It is one of many named selections and hybrids of snow camellia, Camellia hiemalis. Long grown and prized in Japan, snow camellia may have originated as a hybrid of...

(Kanjiro Camellia, Snow Camellia)

The Kanjiro snow camellia is a vigorous evergreen shrub native to eastern and southern Asia. It is sometimes erroneously called 'Hiryu'. Its fragrant, hot pink, semi-double flowers appear from very late autumn through the winter. The glossy dark green, leathery leaves are pointed ovals.

Plant 'Kanjiro' in moist, acidic, humus-rich soil. It does best in bright partial shade, but will tolerate full sun if other conditions are ideal. Often used for specimen plantings in woodland gardens, snow camellia...

(Rose of Autumn Camellia, Snow Camellia)

The medium-sized, "rose-form" blooms of 'Rose of Autumn' are lustrous rose-pink and appear from late fall to midwinter. An open-pollinated seedling of Camellia hiemalis 'Kanjiro', this cultivar originated about 1990 at Green Nurseries, Fairhope, Alabama. It is one of many named selections and hybrids of snow camellia, Camellia hiemalis. Long grown and prized in Japan, snow camellia may have originated as a hybrid of Camellia sasanqua, and is known only in cultivation.

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(Showa-no-sakae Camellia, Snow Camellia)

The 'Showa-No-Sakae' cultivar of snow camellia is a vigorous low-spreading evergreen shrub native to eastern and southern Asia. Its soft pink, semi-double to double (extra petaled) flowers begin to appear in fall and reach peak in midwinter. Petals may be bright pink, fuchsia or rarely light pink in their coloration.

Plant 'Showa-No-Sakae' in moist, acidic, humus-rich soil. It does best in bright partial shade, but will tolerate nearly full sun if ideal soil conditions are maintained. Often...

(Common Camellia, Japanese Camellia)

The common camellia is a large, broadleaf evergreen shrub to small tree that originates from eastern Asia. It has a compact, upright habit and attractive smooth gray branches furnished with oval, glossy, dark green leaves. From late winter to early spring, it bears large, single deep red flowers, though there are many cultivars that come in a wider array of pink, white and red shades.

Treasured in eastern Asia for centuries, the common camellia was brought to the western world by Jesuit missionary...

(Ack-Scent Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

The U.S. National Arboretum introduction, 'Ack-Scent', is vigorous, has an upright habit and blooms heavily from late winter to spring. Its large peony-form flowers are shell pink and have a distinctly spicy fragrance.

Japanese camellia is a large, broadleaf evergreen shrub to small tree that originates from eastern Asia. It has attractive smooth gray branches that are furnished with oval, glossy, dark green leaves. From late winter to early spring, it bears large, waxy flowers that are excellent...