(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...

(Adeyaka Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

The large, single blooms of 'Adeyaka' are deep cherry red with lots of golden stamens in the center. This vigorous, medium-sized tree blooms heavily from winter through to spring.

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 for cutting.

Camellia prefers...

(Adolphe Audusson Variegated Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

A sturdy, broadleaf evergreen shrub with an upright, open habit, 'Adolphe Audusson Variegated' bears red and white-blotched flowers in late winter. This cultivar dates to the early 1940s when it was selected as a mutant sport from 'Adolphe Audusson', a historic cultivar from the 1870s. Its large, semi-double blooms of deep scarlet red have random blotches of white on the petals. As the flowers age, they open to show a core of golden stamens.

Treasured in eastern Asia for centuries, camellias...

(Al Ewan Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camellia)

Massive bright red flowers are the glory of the 'Al Ewan' camellia. This cultivar was selected as a chance seedling found in Albert Ewan's garden in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1990s. The very large, semi-double blooms are velvety red and open to show a core of golden stamens. The oldest flowers drop off entirely and litter the ground. This broadleaf evergreen shrub develops an upright, rounded habit.

Treasured in eastern Asia for centuries, camellias were brought to the western...

(Alba Plena Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

Regal in bloom with its plump, pure white flowers, 'Alba Plena' is one of the earliest known Japanese camellias selected in the West. Captain Connor, a ship captain overseeing transports from China to England, selected this plant in 1792 from cargo destined for Kew Gardens. The perfectly shaped snow white blooms are formal and fully double. This broadleaf evergreen shrub grows quite slowly but develops a bushy, rounded habit when mature.

Treasured in eastern Asia for centuries, camellias...

(Allene Gunn Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

The medium-sized, midseason, "peony-form" blooms of 'Allene Gunn' have blush-pink petals with darker pink edges. This cultivar was selected by C.V. Bozeman of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is one of thousands of named selections and hybrids of Camellia japonica, a broadleaf evergreen shrub that has long been grown and treasured in its native East Asia.

This moderate-growing, upright, medium to large shrub has ascending, gray-barked branches and oval, glossy, dark-green leaves with weakly...

(Amabilis Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camillia)

An heirloom French cultivar, 'Amabilis' bears large single white flowers in late winter to early spring. It originated in the mid-1820s in Nantes, France, but little information remains on its origins. This cultivar is one of thousands of named selections and hybrids of Camellia japonica, a broadleaf evergreen shrub that has long been grown and treasured in its native East Asia.

This upright, medium to large shrub has ascending, gray-barked branches and oval, dull green leaves with...

(Anita Camellia, Camellia, Japanese Camellia)

The pale pink flowers of 'Anita' look as if they were decorated with an explosion of red confetti and streamers. Each semi-double bloom opens to reveal a core of golden stamens. This vigorous broadleaf evergreen shrub develops an upright but compact habit. It was first discovered in 1940 growing on the Baldwin Estate in Ontario, California.

Treasured in eastern Asia for centuries, camellias were brought to the western world by Jesuit missionary and botanist Georg Joseph Kamel, for whom they...