(Camellia)

The genus Camellia includes evergreen shrubs and trees of huge economic and ornamental importance. The name honors the Jesuit priest Georg Joseph Kamel, a Czech who contributed much to the growing science of botany. Although Kamel never described a camellia, Carl Linnaeus chose to name the genus after him in 1753.

Camellias are broadleaf evergreen woody plants. Although some controversy remains among scientists, the number of species ranges from 120 to 270. All are native to southeastern...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(Freedom Bell Camellia, Hybrid Camellia)

Camellias are tender evergreen shrubs much prized in warm climates for their abundant, showy flowers, but also their leaves, shapes, and longevity. This one, ‘Freedom Bell,’ is an upright plant with small, glossy, green leaves and open, semi-double (extra petals) red flowers that arise along the stems in early to late winter. Prune for shape and size right after the end of flowering. New buds for the next year will form afterward.

Like most camellias, ‘Freedom Bell’ prefers neutral to acidic,...