4 rustic camellias for a natural garden

Camellia transnokoensis

The quintessential wild camellia is undoubtedly the botanical species Camellia transnokoensis. Its greatest asset is its simplicity. From February to April, it forms pink-marked flower buds that open delicately into small single white flowers. Numerous, these are small, about 4 cm wide, and of unrivalled simplicity with their five white petals. They give off a delicate scent. They will cover your bush, which has an upright, airy habit.

As for leaves of this species, they are evergreen and ovate, tapering to a point. Young shoots have a bronze tinge. With its reduced height of 1.2 metres and a supple habit that is wider than tall, it is possible to grow this species in a pot. It tolerates down to -12°C but prefers mild climates, otherwise flower buds risk being destroyed by severe frosts.

Its little extra: simplicity of habit and small white flowers.

Camellia 'High Fragrance'

Camellia High Fragrance is arguably the most fragrant country camellia. Its large white to pink-tinged flowers appear between February and April. They are double and peony-like. Highly scented, they give off a powerful fragrance similar to camellia lutchuensis, a botanical and country camellia. Despite their large size, nearly 10 cm in diameter, the simplicity of each flower and their ruffled look give a natural appearance. Their colours range from white-pink to salmon-pink. They complement the bush’s olive-green foliage. It can reach 1.50 metres after 10 years and forms a bush with a rather upright, free-growing habit. It is hardy down to -14°C.

Its little extra: peony-shaped flowers with a powerful scent.

Camellia 'Cinnamon Scentsation'

The Camellia Cinnamon Scentsation charms with its single flowers and powerful spicy fragrance. Flowering from February to April, it produces single, creamy-white flowers tinged with pale pink. The softness of its colours and the simplicity of its five-petalled flowers give it a completely natural appearance. This is complemented by the bush’s loose habit. It can reach 1.50 metres after 10 years. Each year, the young ovate, pointed leaves are tinged with copper before turning light green. The bush tolerates down to -14°C but, like all camellias, prefers mild climates.

Its little extra: its pale pink single flowers with a spicy fragrance and the bush’s loose habit.

Camellia Sweet Jane

Camellia Sweet Jane is appreciated for its very country-style look thanks to its understated flowers shaped like a natural rose. They appear between February and April. They are double and declinate into a soft gradient from light pink at the centre to darker pink at the edges. Abundant, they are small, 3 to 4 cm in diameter. They adorn a bush with a rather erect, supple and natural habit that can reach 1 metre in height after 10 years. Foliage is dense and borne on supple shoots. It is formed of small leaves 6 cm long with coppery reflections when young before becoming light green. Hardy down to -12°C, camellia Sweet Jane tolerates both cultivation in open ground and in pots.

Its little extra: its small soft-pink flowers shaped like a natural rose and the bush’s supple habit.

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