Camellia Shrubs | Japonica & Sasanqua

Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart' is a unique and captivating variety of the widely appreciated Camellia genus. This particular cultivar stands out due to its remarkable blooms that flaunt a blend of white petals, often beautifully streaked or blotched with shades of rose-pink. These multi-colored blossoms not only give the plant a distinct aesthetic appeal but also make it a favorite among gardeners and plant enthusiasts seeking something different from the traditional solid-colored camellia flowers.

The plant itself is characterized by its glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves which provide a striking contrast to its delicate blossoms. They create an all-year-round green backdrop, ensuring the garden remains vibrant even outside the flowering season.

Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart' is a slow-growing shrub, which makes it ideal for gardens where space is a premium or where a more controlled growth is desired. While it can tolerate some amount of direct sunlight, it generally prefers partial shade to maintain the vibrancy and longevity of its flowers.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, 'Lady Vansittart' is a testament to the adaptability and diversity within the Camellia genus. It's perfect for ornamental gardens, creating focal points or as part of mixed plantings, and it also does well in pots or containers, providing flexibility in landscaping options.

The Camellia x williamsii 'Donation' is a renowned and cherished hybrid within the camellia world. Its prominence is owed to a range of desirable characteristics. Originating from a cross between Camellia japonica and Camellia saluenensis, the 'Donation' is best known for its impressive, large, semi-double flowers that bloom profusely. These blossoms are a striking shade of soft pink, adding a splash of color to the garden in the midst of winter to early spring when many other plants lie dormant.

This particular camellia variety boasts an upright and vigorous growth habit. Mature plants can attain a substantial size, but they can also be pruned to maintain desired dimensions. Their evergreen nature ensures year-round visual appeal; glossy, dark green leaves create a contrasting backdrop to the pink blossoms, adding texture and depth to landscapes.

'Donation' Camellias are shade-tolerant, which allows them to thrive in areas with dappled light or even in full shade. However, a little morning sun can accentuate their flowering potential. Their hardy nature ensures resilience against many common garden challenges, though like all camellias, they prefer well-draining acidic soils and benefit from protection against intense afternoon sun and drying winds.

In gardens, the 'Donation' Camellia stands out as a centerpiece or can be integrated into mixed borders for structure and seasonal color.

The Camellia japonica 'Nobilissima' is a striking variety of camellia known for its exquisite blooms and elegant appearance. 'Nobilissima' is distinguished by its large, pure white flowers, which are semi-double to peony-formed, showcasing a delicate yet captivating structure. The blooms typically appear in late winter to early spring, creating a stunning contrast against the dark green, glossy foliage that characterises this plant. Each flower can measure up to 10-12 cm in diameter, and the petals are often slightly ruffled, adding to their charm.

The foliage of the Camellia japonica 'Nobilissima' is equally attractive, consisting of leathery, deep green leaves that provide year-round interest. These leaves are elliptical and serrated, offering a lush backdrop to the plant's beautiful flowers. The overall growth habit of 'Nobilissima' is upright and dense, making it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or as a standalone specimen.

In terms of cultivation, 'Nobilissima' prefers acidic, well-drained soil and benefits from a sheltered location with dappled shade. It is advisable to protect the plant from harsh, direct sunlight and strong winds, which can damage the delicate blooms and leaves. Regular watering and mulching help maintain optimal soil conditions and promote healthy growth.

This camellia variety is relatively low-maintenance but may require occasional pruning to shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. 'Nobilissima' is also known for its longevity, often thriving for decades with proper care.

Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' is a delightful and sought-after evergreen shrub renowned for its exquisite blooms and elegant foliage. This camellia cultivar is a hybrid between Camellia saluenensis and Camellia japonica, resulting in a plant that offers the best of both parents. 'Debbie' typically reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) and forms a compact, upright bush with glossy, deep green leaves that provide year-round interest in the garden.

What truly sets 'Debbie' apart is its striking flowers. These blooms appear in late winter to early spring, when the garden often needs a splash of color the most. The semi-double to peony-like flowers are around 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) in diameter, and they boast an enchanting blend of soft pink and white petals. The flowers are further adorned with a central cluster of golden stamens, adding to their allure.

Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' is known for its tolerance of colder temperatures, making it well-suited for UK gardens. It thrives in partial shade to protect its delicate blossoms from harsh sunlight and strong winds. Providing well-drained, acidic soil and mulching around the base of the plant helps maintain optimal growing conditions.

With its graceful appearance and captivating blossoms, 'Debbie' is a popular choice for both ornamental gardens and as a focal point in woodland settings. Its long-lasting blooms and evergreen foliage ensure year-round visual appeal, making it a cherished addition to the diverse world of camellias. Whether grown in a container or planted directly in the ground, Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' adds a touch of elegance and charm to any garden in the United Kingdom, enchanting gardeners and visitors alike with its timeless beauty.

Camellia R.L. Wheeler is a bold and beautiful evergreen shrub prized for its large, vibrant rose-red blooms that appear in mid to late season. The flowers are often peony or semi-double in form, with ruffled petals that create a full, lush appearance. Its deep green, glossy foliage provides year-round structure and contrast, enhancing the dramatic effect of the blooms.

This camellia grows into a medium to large-sized shrub with a strong, upright habit, making it an excellent choice for feature planting, screens, or woodland-style gardens. It prefers a sheltered position with dappled or morning sun and protection from harsh afternoon rays and strong winds.

Like all camellias, R.L. Wheeler thrives in slightly acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Mulching and regular watering help maintain optimal conditions. With proper care, it brings vibrant color and elegance to the garden during the cooler months.

Camellia Happy Birthday is a compact, evergreen shrub celebrated for its profusion of soft pink, semi-double to peony-form blooms that appear from late winter through early spring. Its glossy, dark green foliage provides year-round interest, making it an attractive feature in any garden.

Camellia Happy Birthday is particularly well-suited for smaller gardens, borders, or container planting due to its tidy growth habit and moderate size. It thrives in a sheltered, partially shaded position, ideally protected from strong winds and morning sun, which can damage delicate blooms during frost.

Camellia Happy Birthday prefers acidic, well-drained soils rich in organic matter and benefits from mulching to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Regular watering during dry periods and feeding with an acid-loving plant fertilizer will support healthy growth and flowering. With the right care and placement, it offers a reliable and elegant display, perfect for brightening up the garden during the colder months.

Camellia 'Doctor King' is a compact, bushy, evergreen shrub of upright habit, with broadly elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves and profusion of ruffled, single to semi-double, rosy-red flowers with yellow stamens in the centre, blooming from February to April.

Camellia 'Doctor King' prefers organically rich, slightly acidic to neutral, moist, well-drained soils. The soil needs to be consistently moist, but too much water may lead to a root rot. It thrives in partial or dappled shade. Direct sunlight will burn its leaves and full shade may lead to thinner leaves and fewer blooms. It can withstand frost but needs to be sheltered from harsh, dry winds, as well as early morning sun. Late frosts may damage the flower buds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require regular pruning.

Camellia 'Doctor King' is a wonderful, long-flowering, colourful, evergreen shrub perfect as an accent plant, great for mixed borders and shrub borders, and excellent for growing in pots and containers.

Camellia japonica 'Odoratissima' is a captivating flowering plant renowned for its exquisite beauty and delightful fragrance. It boasts glossy, dark green foliage that serves as an elegant backdrop for its stunning flowers. The blooms are large, rose-like flowers that can measure up to 5 inches in diameter. These flowers typically appear in late winter to early spring, adding a burst of colour to the garden when many other plants are dormant. The petals are usually a rich shade of pink, sometimes with hints of white or deeper hues towards the centre.

Unlike many other varieties of Camellia japonica, which are not known for their scent, 'Odoratissima' fills the air with a sweet, delicate perfume that is reminiscent of roses or jasmine. T

In terms of cultivation, Camellia japonica 'Odoratissima' thrives in partial shade or filtered sunlight and prefers moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. It is relatively low-maintenance once established but benefits from regular watering, especially during dry spells. Mulching around the base of the plant can help

The Camellia 'Snow Flurry' is a hardy, evergreen shrub prized for its elegant, delicate-looking flowers and robust nature. It is one of the earliest-blooming camellias, often producing an abundance of semi-double to fully double, creamy white blossoms in autumn and early winter. The petals have a ruffled appearance, sometimes tinged with a hint of pale pink when first opening, adding to its charm.

The glossy, dark green foliage provides a striking contrast to the luminous flowers, making it a beautiful addition to gardens throughout the colder months. As a hybrid developed for increased cold tolerance, Snow Flurry thrives in sheltered positions with partial shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It is an excellent choice for borders, woodland gardens, or as an ornamental focal point in a courtyard or patio setting.

This camellia variety is particularly valued for its ability to bring brightness and elegance to the garden when many other plants have faded, offering a touch of winter magic with its snowy blooms.

Camellia japonica ‘Pink Icicle’ is an elegant and eye-catching evergreen shrub, admired for its distinctive foliage and graceful spring flowers. With a naturally upright, bushy habit, it typically grows to around 2.5 to 4 metres over time, making it an excellent choice for a specimen shrub, woodland border, or informal screening in a sheltered garden.

One of its most striking features is the foliage. The leaves are long, narrow, and glossy dark green, with irregular creamy white margins that give the plant year-round visual interest. This variegation brightens shaded areas of the garden and provides an attractive contrast to other evergreen shrubs. New growth often appears slightly softer in tone before hardening and deepening in colour.

Flowering from late winter into mid-spring, ‘Pink Icicle’ produces medium to large, semi-double blooms. The flowers are a soft, clear pink, with gently ruffled petals arranged around a central cluster of golden yellow stamens. Their simple yet refined form complements the bold foliage without overwhelming it. The blooms are produced freely and stand out beautifully against the variegated leaves, adding welcome colour at a time when little else is flowering.

Like other Camellia japonica varieties, ‘Pink Icicle’ thrives in acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It prefers a position in partial shade, sheltered from cold winds and early morning sun, which can scorch frost-affected flowers and leaves. Consistent moisture is important, particularly during dry periods, though the plant should never be left waterlogged.

Maintenance is minimal once established. Pruning is rarely necessary beyond shaping or removing dead or crossing branches, and this is best done after flowering. Mulching with ericaceous compost helps retain moisture and maintain soil acidity.

Overall, Camellia japonica ‘Pink Icicle’ is a sophisticated and reliable shrub, offering a harmonious blend of attractive foliage and soft spring colour, and bringing structure and elegance to the garden throughout the year.

Camellia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Cameo’ is a refined and elegant evergreen shrub, prized for its exquisite blooms and polished appearance. It forms a dense, upright habit, typically reaching around 2 to 3 metres in height over time, making it well suited to borders, woodland gardens, or as a striking specimen plant.

The flowers are the true highlight. Appearing from late winter into early spring, they are medium to large in size and beautifully formal in structure. Each bloom is composed of neatly layered petals, opening from soft blush-pink buds into creamy white flowers delicately edged and flushed with rose pink. This subtle two-tone effect gives the cultivar its “cameo” quality, lending an air of quiet sophistication rather than bold showiness. The flowers are long-lasting and hold their shape well, even in cool weather.

The foliage provides year-round interest. Leaves are glossy, deep green, and leathery, creating an attractive backdrop to the pale flowers and ensuring the plant remains visually appealing long after flowering has finished. New growth often emerges with a lighter green sheen before darkening as it matures.

Like most camellias, ‘Nuccio’s Cameo’ prefers acidic, well-drained soil and a sheltered position away from cold, drying winds and early morning sun, which can damage frost-touched blooms. It thrives best in partial shade, particularly in gardens with dappled light. Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring only light pruning to maintain shape and remove spent flowers.

Overall, Camellia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Cameo’ is a timeless and graceful plant, valued for its subtle colouring, tidy habit, and ability to bring gentle beauty to the garden at a time of year when little else is in flower.

Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' is a delightful and sought-after evergreen shrub renowned for its exquisite blooms and elegant foliage. This camellia cultivar is a hybrid between Camellia saluenensis and Camellia japonica, resulting in a plant that offers the best of both parents. 'Debbie' typically reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) and forms a compact, upright bush with glossy, deep green leaves that provide year-round interest in the garden.

What truly sets 'Debbie' apart is its striking flowers. These blooms appear in late winter to early spring, when the garden often needs a splash of color the most. The semi-double to peony-like flowers are around 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) in diameter, and they boast an enchanting blend of soft pink and white petals. The flowers are further adorned with a central cluster of golden stamens, adding to their allure.

Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' is known for its tolerance of colder temperatures, making it well-suited for UK gardens. It thrives in partial shade to protect its delicate blossoms from harsh sunlight and strong winds. Providing well-drained, acidic soil and mulching around the base of the plant helps maintain optimal growing conditions.

With its graceful appearance and captivating blossoms, 'Debbie' is a popular choice for both ornamental gardens and as a focal point in woodland settings. Its long-lasting blooms and evergreen foliage ensure year-round visual appeal, making it a cherished addition to the diverse world of camellias. Whether grown in a container or planted directly in the ground, Camellia x williamsii 'Debbie' adds a touch of elegance and charm to any garden in the United Kingdom, enchanting gardeners and visitors alike with its timeless beauty.

Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Jewel' is a mesmerizing cultivar that epitomizes the beauty and elegance of the Camellia genus. Revered for its stunning floral display and graceful foliage, 'Nuccio's Jewel' is a favourite among gardeners and enthusiasts alike.

The most striking feature of 'Nuccio's Jewel' is undoubtedly its flowers. These blooms are large, typically measuring around 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and possess a captivating beauty that captivates onlookers. Each flower is composed of layers of delicate petals, which unfold to reveal a symphony of colour and form. The colour palette of 'Nuccio's Jewel' encompasses shades of pink and white, with variations in intensity and hue adding depth and complexity to its appearance. The petals exhibit a glossy sheen, further enhancing their allure and lending the flowers a polished, refined aesthetic.

The blooms of 'Nuccio's Jewel' emerge in late winter to early spring.

In addition to its ornamental value, Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Jewel' is also prized for its resilience and adaptability. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial shade, making it suitable for a wide range of garden settings. With proper care and attention, this cultivar can flourish for years.