Shrubs

                                Looking to add some camellias to your garden this season, but aren't sure which to choose? There are many different types of camellias, so picking just one can be a bit difficult! In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss walks through her favorite camellia varieties, with names and pictures of each!                                


                            By Melissa Strauss 
                                Last updated: October 5, 2022                                    |
                                14 min read

If you’re looking for a hardy, low maintenance flowering shrub that blooms during the cooler months, the camellia is a magical plant with wide reaching appeal. Hailing originally from the continent of Asia, camellias now play a starring role in many gardens in the Southern United States, and throughout zones 7-10, with a few varieties that can be grown as far North as zone 6 (we will talk about 3 of these beauties).

While they are native mainly to China, Japan and Korea, throughout the 1900’s researchers from all over the world have bred some of the most dazzling hybrid varieties, to achieve new color and petal formation combinations, as well as breeding selectively for cold hardiness. From Australia, New Zealand and the USA, all the way to a splashy variety bred in Italy, these specimens are some of the most beautiful and versatile flowering plants you will find.

Boasting more than 250 known species and upwards to 3,000 hybrid varieties, it’s incredibly difficult to pick just one variety of camellia So, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of our favorites, with each camellia chosen for its unique appearance and growth habits. You’ll find the camellias on this list are comprised of a wide berth of colors, petal formations and plant zone versatility. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in!

‘April Blush’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: ChinaPlant Size: 4’-10’ tall and 3’-7’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade, filtered lightPlant Zone:  6-9

April Blush is another evergreen shrub variety that will survive colder temperatures. It is slow growing, topping out between 4-10 feet. This variety likes partial shade, as well as protection from wind in colder climates. April makes a lovely hedge and blooms freely during the season.

April Blush blooms from Winter through Spring. Its flowers are large and ethereal, a pale blush pink set against dark green leaves. The sizeable blooms are semi double petal form and open fully to reveal graceful, golden stamens.

‘Australis’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: AustraliaPlant Size: 6’-12’ (potentially up to 25’) tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Partial sun to full shadePlant Zone: 7-9

A popular red variety and a winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Horticultural Society, this is a stunning plant. Australis is a late bloomer, but when she blooms it’s a sight to behold.

Growing up to 12’ tall and with a spread of up to 10’, this variety covers itself in large (5”) bright, rose red, peony form blossoms. Bright yellow stamens peek out from among the ruffled and irregular center petals creating a warm, lit from within glow. A wonderful specimen!

‘Ballet in Pink’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin:  North Carolina, USAPlant Size: 8’-10’ tall and 4’-6’ wideSun Exposure: Morning sun, afternoon shadePlant Zone: 7-9

This particular variety is an all-around dazzling bloomer. Right around the time that the famous ballet, The Nutcracker Suite is being performed by companies around the world, Ballet in Pink explodes with a profusion of flowers that may outdo the rest of the varieties on this, and quite possibly, any list. Ballet will top out around 10’ tall and loves a partially shaded spot in the garden.

The blooms on this variety are large (4’-5’) and bountiful, appearing on every node of a healthy plant. This camellia blooms in bright pink with peony petal formation, yellow stamens are sprinkled in among the ruffled inner petals. 

The buds form in clusters, and if you want to encourage larger flowers, plucking all but one bud per cluster will achieve this purpose. Don’t worry about thinning out too many buds, the blooms on this camellia are plentiful and beautiful. This camellia is a true performer.

‘Black Lace’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Mississippi, USAPlant Size: 6’-10’ tall and 7’ wideSun Exposure: Dappled shade, tolerates more sun when maturePlant Zone: 7-9

This variety of c. Japonica sounds a bit different than it appears. Not black at all, this camellia sports brilliant, velvety red blooms from mid-Winter through Spring. These prolific blooms take on a formal double petal form, making them look like a brilliant, fully opened red rose.

Black Lace is slow growing, taking up to 10 years to reach a mature height of about 6’, though it can reach upwards to 10’ over time. It is hardy and blooms profusely if it is planted in a spot with slightly acidic, well-drained soil and filtered sunlight.

‘Black Magic’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: California, USAPlant Size: 10’-12’ tall and 8’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Filtered sun to shadePlant Zone: 7-9

I simply can’t imagine a list of recommended camellias that doesn’t include Black Magic. This glorious variety is certain to cast its spell over every passerby with its stunning flower show, which takes place in Winter, and continues into the early Spring months.

Black Magic’s foliage resembles that of a holly bush, dark, serrated leaves are unusual and create a perfect backdrop for the real star of the show, its enchanted blooms. Black magic has truly magical flowers.

The petals are deep crimson and veined with black. These blooms have a ruffled, double petal formation, and some say they look quite a bit like high end artificial flowers as the petals themselves have a glossy appearance in addition to their otherworldly color.  In case you couldn’t tell, I am a big fan of Black Magic.

Image Credit: Megan Hansen via Flickr (Image use allowed with attribution)

‘Bonnie Marie’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Georgia, USAPlant Size: 8’-10’ tall and 6’-8’ wideSun Exposure: Sun to partial shadePlant Zone: 7-9

Bonnie is a wonderful addition to the garden with its extra-long blooming season. Bonnie Marie will bloom from November until April with her delightful flowers that will shine extra bright in partial shade.

Reaching about 10’ in height, this camellia fits beautifully with a Japanese magnolia canopy and an azalea foundation, together these three would keep you flush with pink blossoms from Mid-Fall through late Spring!

Bonnie’s blooms come in anemone petal form. It’s very large blooms (5”) are a delicate pink, with darker veining, and the ruffled center petals are sprinkled with dark yellow stamens. Fully opened it has the appearance of a perfect pink garden rose, without the thorns. This variety makes wonderful cut flowers.

‘Brushfield’s Yellow’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: AustraliaPlant Size: 10’-16’ tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Morning sun, filtered sunPlant Zone: 7-9

There are only a handful of camellias with yellow flowers, and Brushfield’s just may be the most spectacular. This camellia plant will top out around 15’ at maturity, and likes to live predominantly in the shade, although they will tolerate a few hours of the morning sun.

Brushfield’s Yellow has dark green, glossy foliage which beautifully compliments its signature blooms. Its blooms are a creamy white outside in a single petal form, surrounding a peony-like cluster of buttery yellow inner petals. Bright yellow stamens are centrally visible up close, and from afar create a radiating ombre effect.

‘Debutante’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Georgia, USAPlant Size: 6’-8’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Full shade to filtered sunPlant Zone: 7-9

Possibly one of the most well-known and loved variety of Camellia is the aptly named Debutante. The Debutante bloom is truly dreamy flower, a full peony petal formation in ballet pink makes this a perfect corsage flower.

These fluffy pink confections resemble a rose or peony and begin blooming early in the season, in Fall. They make excellent cut flowers with their generous number of large, pale pink, ruffled blooms. Debutante is a member of the c. Japonica variety. It is on the smaller end of the scale for this variety, coming in at just around 8’ when mature.

Desire’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: JapanPlant Size: 6’-12’ (potentially up to 25’) tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Morning sun, afternoon shadePlant Zone: 7-10

The name says it all, once I laid eyes upon the mesmerizing blooms of this camellia, I had the instantaneous desire to have one for myself! The plant itself is a faster growing camellia and reaches about 10’ tall at maturity.

It appreciates partial to full shade and in the off season is a particularly handsome landscape element with its deep green dense foliage. But it is those blooms that are something to dream about.

The first outer petals are a deep rose shade, which is lovely on its own. They open to reveal an ombre effect gradient from dark, to pale pink to pure white at the center of their formal double petals. To top it off, these blooms are 4” in diameter! Breathtaking!

‘E.G. Waterhouse’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: AustraliaPlant Size: 9’-12’ tall and 6’-9’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade, out of afternoon sunPlant Zone: 7-9

Named for Eben Gowrie Waterhouse, an Australian Germanic scholar turned plant breeder in retirement, this is a pink variety that deserves recognition. Waterhouse is another long bloomer, with flowers showing up in early Winter and lasting through the late Spring months. It is a fair-sized plant, reaching upwards to 12’ and works nicely as a tree or espalier.

The blooms on Waterhouse are about the most perfect things you will ever lay eyes on. Perfectly formed, formal double, medium pink blooms open fully to reveal a small cluster of barely visible stamens, just a suggestion of them really. Blooms are medium in size and their long stems make them perfect for cutting.

‘Irrational Exuberance’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Alabama, USAPlant Size: 4’-5’ tall and 5’-6’ wideSun Exposure: Morning sun, afternoon shadePlant Zone: 7-9

The only one on the list that has varying petal formations, Irrational Exuberance is surprising and delightful. Its medium to large blooms appear in formal double, double rose, and peony petal forms.

The blossoms are variegated, with bold white edges, and deep red veining bursts out from the center. A smattering of yellow stamens mingle with the red of the inner petals.

Exuberance is a slow grower that spreads, so it needs some surrounding space, or it may encroach on other nearby plants. Topping out at 4’-5’, it can grow wider than it does tall by 1’-2’. This variety was hybridized in Fairhope, Alabama, and blooms mainly in the Spring.

‘Jean May’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Florida, USAPlant Size: 10’ tall and 6’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade to part sunPlant Zone: 7-9

Jean May is a popular, early blooming variety of sasanqua, that needs partial shade in the early years, but can survive in full sun once it matures. Compact and reaching 6’-10’ tall, it makes a lovely privacy hedge or espalier.

Jean’s flowers are delicate and breathtaking. It blooms abundantly in shell pink that is pale and nearly translucent at the outer edges and darkens to a lovely coral shade in the center, where a few irregular petals mingle with light yellow stamens to give the appearance of being lit from within. This award-winning camellia is graceful in form and has a pleasing fragrance as well.

‘Lavinia Maggi’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: ItalyPlant Size: 6’-12’ tall and 6’-10’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade to part sunPlant Zone: 7-10

Lavinia is a dazzling star of the garden. Its extra-large (5’) blooms show off in profusion from mid to late season making this a focal point in any surroundings. The flowers are uniquely colored, white with fuchsia splashes painting the inner part of formal double petals.

This is another shade loving shrub, and it grows to about 10’ tall with an 8” spread. Lavinia Maggi is another winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The only species on the list that was cultivated in Europe, this Mediterranean variety is a specimen to be proud of.

‘Les Jury’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: New ZealandPlant Size: 10’ tall and 6’ wideSun Exposure: Partial to full shadePlant Zone: 7-10

Les Jury is another winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. It prefers shade and when kept out of direct sun it will produce legions of blooms, many in clusters.

This camellia is one the smaller side so it’s very versatile, and blooms from January to April in the Northern Hemisphere.

The blooms produced by Les Jury are a deep crimson set against delicate foliage that appears red in its new growth, so this is a camellia that puts on a show year-round. The blooms are large (4’) and formal double petal formation, another camellia that resembles a rose, this is a gorgeous specimen.

‘Margaret Davis’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: AustraliaPlant Size: 16’ tall and 13’ wideSun Exposure: Filtered sun, morning sunPlant Zone: 7-9

Ms. Davis is a Camellia Hall of Fame winner named for the founder of The Garden Club of Australia. Known as the rose of winter, Camellias are thought to resemble this most popular flower, but a glance at Margaret Davis may remind you of another popular cut flower, the sweet carnation.

The Margaret Davis is a unique bloom that begins with a creamy white center ruffled around a sprinkling of yellow stamens. The edges of the petals, however, are splashed with bright pink and rose red.

These beauties have a full peony petal formation, making them dense and sturdy, so they make good cut flowers and look stunning afloat in a crystal bowl on your dining room table.

‘Professor Charles S. Sargent’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: MassachusettsPlant Size: 15’ tall and 10’ wideSun Exposure: morning sun, afternoon part shadePlant Zone: 7-9

Professor Sargent is as distinguished as it sounds, with a truly unique petal formation. Named for the one-time director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the Professor is a beautiful red camellia variety with a unique tight peony petal formation. These densely ruffled petals range in color from rose pink to a deep red color. One flower boasts up to 230 petals!

Its many layers of dense crimson petals make this a particular standout on any list of camellia varieties. Professor has a moderate growth rate and averages 15’ tall and 10’ wide at maturity, although it can grow larger over time, the growth will slow around this size.

‘Ruby Wedding’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: New ZealandPlant Size: 5’-6’ tall and 4’-5’ wideSun Exposure: Partial to full shadePlant Zone: 7-10

Ruby Wedding is a smaller Camellia, reaching about 5-6’ tall by maturation, which is generally about 10 years. It has a nice long blooming window, which can start as early as November and last all the way through April.

Ruby’s name comes from the bright red, Peony to Anemone, double petal blooms it produces. You will want to gaze at these beauties daily, and thanks to its compact size Ruby Wedding is quite versatile in the garden.

‘Setsugekka’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: JapanPlant Size: 8’-10’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Partial shade to part sunPlant Zone: 7-10

Setsugekka has a unique growth habit in the camellia world in that is has a slight weeping tendency, making it a wonderful candidate for espalier. White, ruffled double petals open to reveal fully visible, bright golden stamens.

The flowers of this variety are smaller and less showy than some others on this list, but they have the additional distinction of omitting a pleasing fragrance. It is a low maintenance and vigorous variety and is on the tall end for the sasanqua varieties.

The petals are delicate and fall easily, so these blooms are better left intact, and do not make good cut flowers. The bright side of this is that they do not require deadheading.

‘Shi Shi Gashira’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: JapanPlant Size: 4’-5’ tall and 6’-8’ wideSun Exposure: filtered sun to part sunPlant Zone: 7-10

Shi Shi Gashira is a variety that produces excellent cut flowers! Long branches with clusters of large, hot pink blooms are impressive to behold outdoors and in. These flowers have semi-double petal formation, The center is ruffled with complimentary clusters of well-defined, golden stamens peeking through the pink petals.

Shi Shi is an early bloomer, so blooms begin in the Fall. It is a smaller camellia, topping out around 5’, and has lots of large, lovely flowers during the blooming season. This is a low-maintenance variety that enjoys the partial shade.

‘Silver Anniversary’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: CaliforniaPlant Size: 4’-5’ tall and wideSun Exposure: Partial shade to dappled sunlightPlant Zone: 7-9

This variety of c. Japonica is a beacon of understated elegance. Its graceful, white, semi-double petal blooms begin to appear after the New Year and last through early Spring. It is a winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, and it is not difficult to see why.

This shrub’s delicate white flowers practically glow against a background of deep green, glossy leaves. This variety makes a lovely privacy hedge. It likes dappled sunlight, particularly in its early years, but will tolerate a bit more sun once mature.

‘Snow Flurry’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Maryland, USAPlant Size: 5’-7’ tall and 3’-5’ wideSun Exposure: Part ShadePlant Zone: 6-9

This variety gets its name from its unique tolerance to cold weather. Snow Flurry is one of very few camellias that will grow well as far North as zone 6. This variety also sheds its own spent petals, making the gardeners job easier, because there is no need to deadhead this plant.

Technically considered to be of the peony petal formation, Snow Flurry’s blooms consist of 12 outer petals in a snow-white color. In the center, there is a cluster of yellow to white petaloids mixed in with visible yellow stamens. It has leathery, dark green foliage that complement its soft white blooms.

‘Winter’s Star’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: Washington, DC, USAPlant Size: 4’-6’ tall and 5’-7’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade, filtered sunPlant Zone: 6-9

Pollinators love this pale violet pink bloom with its single petal formation and dense, showy pile of pollen rich stamens. The fair blooms stand out nicely against glossy, bright green foliage. The leaves are lightly serrated and large.

Winter’s Star only blooms for 4-6 weeks, but the flowers are a sight to behold, and they are very low maintenance as they drop their own petals eliminating the need for deadheading.

‘Yuletide’

  • Plant Type: EvergreenGeographical Origin: China and JapanPlant Size: 8’-10’ tall and 6’-9’ wideSun Exposure: Partial shade to part sunPlant Zone: 7-10

The name is evocative of the rich reds, greens and gold tones of Christmastime, and the flower does not disappoint. Yuletide is a plant of the variety c. Sasanqua. The sasanqua is somewhat shorter and shrubbier than its popular cousin c.

Japonica and has a hardy rootstock making them a great foundation for grafting other species. They are also more tolerant of sunlight and can handle quite a few hours of direct sunlight during the day.

Yuletide begins to bloom near the end of Fall, leading directly into the Winter holiday season, and it certainly looks the part. This camellia boasts large, bright red, single petal formation blooms with thick clusters of golden yellow stamens. All of these beautiful blooms are set against a lush foundation of glossy, bright green leaves.

Final Thoughts

There are a seemingly endless number of varieties of camellia. Whether you are looking for a tree to take center stage in your winter landscape, a beautiful blooming privacy hedge, or gorgeous cut flowers to enjoy inside your home, camellias are a wonderful addition to any garden.

With relatively little maintenance and proper planting conditions, a camellia will last a lifetime and provide hundreds of thousands of blooms to your landscape. It would be hard to choose just one favorite, but hopefully this list has provided a good jumping off point for discovering the many beautiful cultivars available!

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