(Sweetshrub)

White, magnolia-like blossoms with yellow and violet make Venus sweetshrub a lovely plant for the mixed border. A spreading shrub that is deciduous, this hybrid was first grown from seed at North Carolina State University research facility in Fletcher in 2001, the result of complex crosses of three species of sweetshrubs.

The leaves are oblong ovals, glossy deep green in color. In late spring to midsummer, depending on warmth of the climate, small, plump, light green flower buds arise and open...

(Western Sweetshrub)

Lustrous, glossy green leaves and fragrant, dark red blossoms make western sweetshrub a lovely plant for the mixed border. A fast growing spreading shrub that is deciduous, it is native to the moist valleys and streambanks in Washington and California's coastal mountains, as well as the western Sierra Nevadas. The leaves are oblong ovals, glossy mid- to dark green in color and with a slightly roughened texture on the upper surface. In spring or summer, depending on warmth of the climate, small, plump,...

(Berlandier's Sundrops)

Berlandier's sundrops is notable for its narrow, linear leaves with sparse, fine teeth on their edges, and months of evening primrose flowers. Normally an evergreen perennial that grows from woody stems near the ground, it is native to the south central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico in grasslands.

The wiry, thick stems of this perennial are orange-tan and lightly lined with long, linear leaves of a light to medium-green. The leaves form a whorled head at the stem tips, from...

(Alaska Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

A hybrid camellia of unknown parentage, 'Alaska' bears medium-sized, semi-double, white flowers from late midwinter to very early spring, midway in the camellia bloom season.

This vigorous, upright, medium to large shrub has ascending branches and glossy, oval, dark-green leaves. The blossoms have fluted petals and a central cluster of numerous white stamens with yellow anthers. The outer petals are larger and broader than the inner ones.

Camellias are broadleaf evergreens from warm temperate...

(Ashton's Pride Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

This exceptionally hardy camellia bears numerous pale pink flowers in late autumn. A hybrid of Camellia sasanqua 'Santozaki' and C. oleifera 'Plain Jane', 'Ashton's Pride' is one of many hardy camellias developed by William L. Ackerman of the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Ackerman crossed the hardy Chinese species C. oleifera with tender camellias to produce a group of beautiful and tough hybrids.

This vigorously growing, medium...

(Beautiful Day Camellia, Reticulata Hybrid Camellia)

The camellia 'Beautiful Day' produces ruffled, creamy-pink blooms in late winter. This hybrid of Camellia reticulata 'Crimson Robe' originated at Heartwood Nursery, Fort Bragg, California. It gradually forms a medium to large, upright shrub with lustrous dark-green, oval, sawtooth-edged leaves. The double blooms emerge from rose-like buds over several weeks beginning in midwinter.

Camellias are broadleaf evergreens from warm temperate regions of eastern Asia. They are prized for their...

(Candy Mountain Camellia, Reticulata Hybrid Camellia)

The camellia 'Candy Mountain' produces dark-pink, white-flecked, peony-shaped blooms in late winter. This hybrid of Camellia pitardii originated at Heartwood Nursery, Fort Bragg, California. It gradually forms a medium to large, spreading to upright shrub with leathery, medium-green leaves. The ruffled double blooms appear for several weeks beginning in midwinter.

Camellias are broadleaf evergreens from warm temperate regions of eastern Asia. They are prized for their abundant showy...

(Christmas Rose Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

The deep-pink, semi-double flowers of this hybrid camellia open from rose-like buds in early winter. It was selected and introduced by Camellia Forest Nursery, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This rounded, medium-sized shrub has glossy, deep green, oval leaves with serrated edges.

Camellias are broadleaved evergreens from warm temperate regions of eastern Asia. They are prized for their abundant showy flowers, their handsome leathery foliage, and their longevity.

Like most camellias, ‘Christmas...

(Cinnamon Scentsation Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

White, pink-flushed, spicy-scented flowers deck the spreading branches of 'Cinnamon Scentsation' from midwinter to early spring. This sport of 'Cinnamon Cindy' was discovered and introduced by renowned camellia breeder William Ackerman of Ashton, Maryland. It forms a medium-sized, open-branched shrub with lustrous, light-green, oval leaves. The small, single blooms have gently ruffled petals and numerous pale-yellow stamens. This hybrid camellia is hardy to USDA Zone 7.

Camellias are broadleaved...

(Crimson Candles Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

Named for its red buds that open to rose-pink flowers, 'Crimson Candles' is also notable for its relative cold-hardiness. It originated at Camellia Forest Nursery, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as a random seedling of an unnamed Camellia reticulata x C. fraterna hybrid.

This medium to large, upright shrub has lustrous leaves that flush bronze-red and mature to deep green. The eight-petaled blooms emerge in late winter from elongated, deep-red buds. This hybrid camellia...