Shrubs

                                Thinking of adding some camellias to your garden but can't decide what color to plant? Camellias can bloom in many colors, with red being the most commonly thought of. In this article, gardening expert and camellia enthusiast Melissa Strauss looks at all the different colors camellias can bloom in.                                


                            By Melissa Strauss 
                                Last updated: September 26, 2022                                    |
                                8 min read

Native to Southeast Asia and Japan, camellias have traveled a long way to become a staple in gardens throughout the United States, and in many other countries as well. Their winter blooming habit makes them highly desirable as they provide color and beauty during the months when most flowering plants are dormant.

Camellias can be grown as a dense and attractive privacy hedge, a small to medium sized flowering tree, and as a standalone evergreen shrub in the landscape. Preferring to live in part shade, camellias like well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.5-6.5.) and different varieties thrive from as far north as zone 6a, to as far south as tropical zone 11.

In the pink color family, camellias run the entire spectrum from pale blush to deep fuchsia. These lovely evergreen shrubs covered in blushing blooms have come to grace many southern gardens and landscapes.

With more hundreds of different varieties and thousands of hybrids, there are a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, and flower formations to choose from.

Camellias bloom in many variations of the colors, red and pink, with quite a few white varieties, a handful of yellow, and not a small number of hybrid varieties that have multicolored blooms. They are easy to find at local nurseries as well as through online retailers and are moderately easy to grow and maintain. Let’s look at some popular varieties of camellias, and revel in their many beautiful colors and combinations.

Pink Camellias

A bowl of pink camellias inside the house can bring an ethereal loveliness to a dining room or entry table. Always classy, pink camellias are the belle of the garden in wintertime.

Marjorie Magnificent

  • Bloom Time: Fall Through Early WinterGeographical Location: Florida, USAPlant Size: 10’-12’ tall and 3’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Part Shade to Part SunPlant Zone: 7-9

This blushing beauty of the japonica species originated in Pensacola, Florida. The flowers are palest pink and anemone form, with many layers of both smooth edged and ruffled petals. Stamens are mostly obscured, but the paleness of these petals allows for a slight yellow tint to show through the ruffled inner petals.

Marjorie Magnificent makes a wonderful small tree, growing to an average height of 10’-12’ and tolerates part sun, but will bloom best with a fair amount of shade.

Coral Delight

  • Bloom Time: Early to Late WinterGeographical Location: California, USAPlant Size: 6’-8’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Filtered SunPlant Zone: 8-10

Coral delight is a wonderful variety for more reasons than one. The most obvious is their bold, tropical coral shade, an uncommon color in the world of camellias. The blooms on Coral Delight are reminiscent of a hibiscus. Their large (5”) semi double blooms have similar rippled edges and open fully to expose a cluster of long pollen tipped stamens.

As an added bonus, this camellia drops its own spent blooms, eliminating the need for deadheading. Blooming from January to March, this variety can tolerate a fair amount of sun compared to other camellias.

Winter’s Joy

  • Bloom Time: Late Fall through Early WinterGeographical Location: Maryland, USAPlant Size: 6’ tall and 4’ wideSun Exposure: Part Sun to Filtered SunPlant Zone: 6-9

This sasanqua variety is known for its remarkable cold tolerance. It can be grown as far north as zone 6a if protected from freezing winds. The blooms on this variety are bright, orchid pink with double flower formation with fully exposed stamens and attract hummingbirds in the cooler months when food is scarce.

Blooms occur in late fall and into the early winter months. Topping out around 6’ tall, this variety makes a beautiful hedge with its dense, deep green, serrated foliage.

Kanjiro

  • Bloom Time: Late Fall through WinterGeographical Location: JapanPlant Size: 10’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Filtered SunPlant Zone: 7-10

Kanjiro is a low maintenance, fast growing camellia of the sasanqua species. Large, deep pink, double petal blooms appear in fall and open fully to reveal a cluster of long, delicate stamens. This variety can grow quite large, as big as 10’ tall and wide, and makes a glorious focal point in the winter landscape.

Red Camellias

Camellias also bloom in many shades of red, from crimson to deep burgundy. These vibrant flowers make a statement around the winter holidays and bring a stunning festivity to the garden.

Many camellia varieties make wonderful cut flowers as well and last a long time when floated in water or used in floral arrangements and bouquets. Red camellias are an absolute dream for December Brides with a flair for the dramatic.

Black Tie

  • Bloom Time: Early to Mid-SpringGeographical Location: Georgia, USAPlant Size: 10’-12’ tall and 3’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Part Shade to Part SunPlant Zone: 7-9

This japonica variety is as red as Snow White’s pout. A bright scarlet, the blooms are small on this compact plant, but they are stunning. The flowers sport a formal double petal formation, organized, and neatly graduated.

Tight layers of concentric petals open in late winter and early spring. This late bloomer is a stunning small shrub which produces a grand quantity of flowers.

Black Magic

  • Bloom Time: Late SpringGeographical Location: North AmericaPlant Size: 12’ tall and 10’ wideSun Exposure: Full to Partial ShadePlant Zone: 7-10

It would be difficult to discuss camellia colors without bringing up Black Magic. This unique variety of japonica has mesmerizing, deep garnet-colored flowers that bloom in late Spring, making them one of the later blooming varieties.

These stunning blooms have a shiny, almost artificial quality. Their large, rose form, double petal flowers are showstoppers set against their deep green, serrated, holly like leaves.

White Camellias

The color of newly fallen snow, these are some of the loveliest varieties of white camellias around. These elegant varieties are very versatile, blending seamlessly into any color scheme. But don’t expect them to be ordinary, camellias don’t do ordinary. These white varieties are heavenly!

Victory

  • Bloom Time: Late Winter through Early SpringGeographical Location: JapanPlant Size: 8’-14’ tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Part Shade to Part SunPlant Zone:  7-10

Truly a victory in hybridization, this pristine, white camellia blooms as far north as zone 6, when protected from freezing winds. Peony form blooms are pure white with a glowing yellow center. Blooms show up in January and last well into the spring. An older variety, this dense evergreen is harder to come by, but worth the effort.

Scentuous

  • Bloom Time: Late Winter through SpringGeographical Location: China and TaiwanPlant Size: 2’-3’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Part SunPlant Zone: 8-10

Gardenia lovers rejoice in this wonderfully fragrant winter bloomer. In case the name didn’t tip you off, these are fragrant blooms which are a rarity in the camellia world.

The loose peony form blooms are ruffled and delicate, predominantly white, they have a soft blush to their outermost petals. This plant is smaller in stature and blooms so profusely that the branches are weighed down creating a weeping characteristic.

Yellow Camellias

Yellow is the bright and cheerful color of sunshine, but it is very rare in terms of camellia flowers. With only a handful of yellow varieties, they are highly prized and hard to come by, with only a handful of varieties that can survive outside of the tropics.

C. Chrysantha

  • Bloom Time:  Late Fall through Early SpringGeographical Location: Southern China and VietnamPlant Size: 12’ tallSun Exposure: Part Shade to Part SunPlant Zone: 11

Chrysantha is a species rather than a specific variety, and is noteworthy for its characteristic, small yellow flowers, and usefulness as a type of tea. Sadly, it doesn’t do well outside of its native habitat, and only thrives in zone 11. The small, single petal form, golden flowers bloom from November to March.

Jury’s Yellow

  • Bloom Time: Late Winter through Early SpringGeographical Location: New ZealandPlant Size: 8’-12’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Full to Part ShadePlant Zone: 7-9

This Camellia x williamsii hybrid is highly sought after for its unique color. Outside of the c. chrysantha species, yellow is a rare color for camellias. Jury’s Yellow produces large, anemone form flowers.

The outer petals are creamy white and the inner petaloids are a soft yellow mingled with bright yellow stamens which contribute to the overall golden glow of these flowers. This late winter bloomer prefers milder temperatures but can survive as far north as zone 7.

Variegated Camellias

Some camellias have the stunning quality of variegated flowers. Blooming in more than one color, these varieties are eye catching and lots of fun. Bred specifically for their colorful blooms, here are some stunning variegated camellias.

Governor Mouton

  • Bloom Time: Early SpringGeographical Location: LouisianaPlant Size: 10’-15’ tall and 8’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Full Shade to Part SunPlant Zone: 6-9

Dating back to mid 1800’s in Louisiana, this splashy variety makes a statement in the garden. This cold hardy camellia can live as far north as zone 6b.

The blooms are large and peony petal form. The large splashy blooms are bright red with irregular touches of white throughout. This heritage plant blooms in late winter and into the spring months.

Lady Vansittart

  • Bloom Time: Late Winter through Early SpringGeographical Location: JapanPlant Size: 8’-12’ tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Part Sun, Filtered SunPlant Zone: 7-9

This heirloom cultivar has a look all its own. While there are quite a few varieties of camellia that are variegated in red or pink with white, this camellia has the stunning combination of cotton candy pink streaked with bright red on its large semi-double blooms.

The flowers have a tropical appearance, much like a hibiscus, opening to reveal a cluster or bright yellow, pollen covered stamens. Lady Vansittart likes morning sun and some shelter from afternoon heat.

Nuccio’s Pearl

  • Bloom Time: WinterGeographical Location: California, USAPlant Size: 6’-8’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Part Sun to Part ShadePlant Zone: 7-9

Rounding out our list is a breathtaking variety of japonica. Nuccio’s Pearl is a fully formal double bloom with slightly pointed, starlike petals.

These densely layered petals are pure white in the center, and the outer petals fade into a pale pink which deepens in color toward the outer edges. These stunning blooms are set off dramatically against deep green foliage. Hardy in zones 8-10, this is a variety that will dazzle passersby.

Final Thoughts

It’s not hard to see why so many gardeners treasure and enjoy tending to their camellias. These versatile blooming shrubs fulfill many purposes in the garden landscape. With so many colors and varieties to choose from, it’s no wonder these wonderful plants have continued to grow in popularity and availability for such an enduring amount of time.

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