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What Are Good Garden Varieties?

10 years ago

With thousands of varieties, your choices for Camellia's are almost limitless. Selecting the right variety is the key to successfully growing one. Flower colors range from pure white to vivid red. Varieties include C. japonica, C. sasanqua and C. retuculata with Japonica being the most popular and hardiest species. Camellia flowers also have many forms, single, semi double, anemone, peony and formal double. Japonica and Sasanquas can reach 7-12 feet high with a spread of about 5-7 feet. Japonicas are typically upright with a pyramidal form and flower from late August to May depending on variety (Zones 7, 8, 9). And Sasanquas are usually more columnar and spreading. They typically flower from October through January (zones 7, 8, 9) depending on variety. The blooms of Sasanqua typically are 2-3 1/2 wide while Japonica has blooms from 2-6 across. C. reticulata are less hardy and grow tall and lanky.

Camellias are excellent for informal borders, specimens and accent plants. Generally speaking, there are early bloomers that bloom prior to January 1, mid-season which bloom from January through February and late bloomers from March on.

Japonica Varieties
Red

Adolphe Audusson M
Dixie Knight M to L
Christmas Beauty E

Pink

Dr. Tinsley M
Marie Bracey E to M
Sawadas Dream E to M

White

Purity L
September Morn E
White Empress E to M

Sasanqua

Red

Bonanza
Sparkling Burgundy
Yuletide

White

Daydream
Star Above Star

Very Cold Hardy

Fall Blooming

Polar Ice
Winters Hope
Winters Peopny

Spring Blooming

Fire n Ice
April Blush
April Remembered

C. Reticulata

C. reticulata. "Shot Silk" pink
"Captain Rawes - pink

This is only an overview of the most common species. As new information becomes available the page will be updated.

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