Camellia japonica Mrs Tingley

Camellia japonica 'Mrs. Tingley' is a variety that stands out for its large double, carmine-pink flowers with a darker centre. From February to March, its perfect flowers open in roses with beautifully imbricated petals. It forms an upright bush with airy branches, which decorates spaces in all seasons with its simple, glossy, dark green foliage. Perfectly hardy, it is a classic in gardens that can be planted in isolation, in flower beds, or in pots. It requires moist, well-drained soil with a tendency towards acidity and a shady exposure.

Camellia 'Mrs. TIngley', an American horticultural creation from 1948 (J.H. Ward Hinkson), belongs to the family of tea plants, just like its ancestor Camellia japonica. It is a fairly well-branched bush with an upright habit, which reaches about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in width. From February to April, it produces floral buds that open into perfectly formed, large flowers, 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) in diameter, composed of 40 firm, wide and rounded petals, imbricated in a rosette, arranged in 9 to 10 rows. The petals located in the centre of the corolla gradually reduce. The foliage persists all year round and is composed of large elliptical leaves, 8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 in) long and 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide, tough, finely toothed at the edges, dark green and slightly glossy on the upper side. While this bush is hardy down to -15°C in open ground, its floral buds can be destroyed by snow, icy winds and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

 Japanese Camellia 'Mrs. Tingley' favours rather mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil. As for exposure, it will tolerate non-burning sun in favourable climates, but it is in partial shade, or even shade, protected from intense sun and sheltered from strong winds that it will give its best. In the garden, for example, you can place it in a shrub bed, in the company of other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa or even Kalmia Latifolia. The large vibrant flowers and the elegantly glossy foliage of 'Mrs. TIngley' would benefit from being planted near the entrance of the house or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away during very cold climates in winter.