6 red-flowered camellias

Camellia ‘Marshmallow’: a variety that combines sophistication and natural charm

The Camellia japonica ‘Marshmallow’ flowers early and abundantly in late winter, from February to April. Its single anemone-shaped flowers measure 5 cm in diameter and appear almost continuously during this period. They offer us a very bright cherry red colour, with a unique and adorable heart of petaloid stamens in pale pink at the centre. The flowering is perfectly highlighted by glossy dark green foliage, which persists all year round.

This small bush with a compact silhouette, measuring 1.20m in height and 1.00m in spread, will fit in anywhere, in sunny or partially shaded situations. This red camellia will thrive, for example, in a pot or container to enhance small spaces, terraces, and balconies, or in a bed of ericaceous plants. Pair it with azaleas in similar colours to create a lovely monochrome area and to take over the flowering. Consider varieties such as ‘Johanna’, the hybrid rhododendron ‘Red Jack’, or the hybrid azalea ‘Ruby’ from the « Encore » collection, which has the particularity of flowering 2 to 3 times a year.

Camellia japonica ‘Marshmallow’

The autumn camellia ‘Yuletide’: an unusual silhouette

The Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ charms us with its stunning winter flowering. A little later than other sasanqua camellias, it blooms from November to January. Our bush then reveals small single flowers about 7 to 8 cm in diameter, with a very natural appearance. Their intense vermilion red colour is highlighted by a centre of prominent yellow stamens. A true bouquet of light that will not go unnoticed in the garden during the cold season!

Another asset of this variety: its dense, compact, and pyramidal silhouette is particularly aesthetic, dressed in glossy dark green evergreen foliage. This graphic quality makes it a good candidate for modern gardens.

Of modest dimensions (1.50m in height and 1.00m in spread), it can be grown in a pot or as a standalone plant, bringing cheer to a rather strict lawn. Its base can then be adorned with small autumn bulbs: white Naples cyclamen, Crocus cartwrightianus ‘Albus‘, autumn colchicum ‘Alboplenum’,…

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

The Autumn Camellia ‘Bonanza’: a very long red flowering

It is important not to underestimate the small dimensions of the Camellia x hiemalis ‘Bonanza’. Although it only reaches about 1 metre in all directions, it still offers us a spectacular flowering for nearly 4 months. It begins to reveal its first flowers in autumn, around October. This flowering can then continue until early winter, in January.

At this time, our camellia is covered in adorable double flowers measuring 7 cm with frilled petals, giving them a slightly tousled appearance. They display a bright red colour subtly enhanced by a nest of golden stamens, which brighten and enliven the winter.

This camellia with red double flowers has a refined rounded habit. It will tolerate sunny and windy exposures better than other relatives, but it will not withstand excessively harsh winters. It will look wonderful in a shrub hedge, surrounded by plants with white flowering, to bring lightness and perspective. Japanese anemones will make good companions, such as ‘Pretty Lady Maria’ or the hybrid variety ‘Tiki Sensation’. Opt for an original and exotic Eucryphia intermedia ‘Rostrevor’ to precede its flowering or for a Chionanthus with its astonishing fringe-like white flowers.

Camellia x hiemalis ‘Bonanza’

The Japanese camellia ‘Roger Hall’: particularly graphic flowers

The Camellia japonica ‘Roger Hall’ surprises with the shape of its flowers. Measuring between 7 and 10 cm in diameter, well double, they consist of numerous perfectly imbricate petals, resembling beautiful geometric rosettes. In terms of colour, it is a vibrant bright red that brightens the garden from February to April.

A little taller than other red camellias mentioned, this Japanese camellia reaches 2 metres in height and 1 metre in spread.

Preferring partial shade and even full shade, it will gracefully adorn the bases of trees or large bushes, such as Japanese maples or Prunus. Our Japanese camellia can be accompanied by decorative foliage such as that of ferns or Nandinas.

Camellia japonica ‘Roger Hall’

The woodland camellia ‘Fairy Wand’: the natural beauty of woodland camellias

The Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’ delights us with its flowering between February and April. Although the flowers are relatively small (4 to 5 cm in diameter), they bloom profusely for several weeks, gently heralding the arrival of spring. Its light red colour is simply brightened by a heart of yellow stamens and highlighted by dark green foliage.

‘Fairy Wand’ has a slightly looser and wilder silhouette than its counterparts. This natural habit makes it a perfect candidate for a shrub hedge, but also for a lovely pot due to its small dimensions (1 metre in height and 80 cm in width). In a large container, pair it with heathers such as Erica x darleyensis ‘Silberschmelze’ and ‘White Perfection’ or even Skimmias like Skimmia japonica ‘Fragrant Cloud’ and ‘Kew White’.

Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’

Japanese camellia ‘Bob's Tinsie’: a breathtaking heart

The flowers of Camellia japonica ‘Bob’s Tinsie’ are considered to be little jewels. Shaped like anemones, they consist of a first row of bright, fiery red petals, followed by a second row at the heart of the flower, creating a true red pompom with silver highlights. The glossy foliage serves as a setting for this elegantly refined flowering, which occurs between February and April.

Of modest dimensions, our camellia reaches 1.20m in height and 70cm in spread. This variety deserves a prime spot near pathways or as a standalone to warmly adorn a well-maintained lawn.

Camellia japonica ‘Bob’s Tinsie’

For further reading

Discover also 7 classic white camellias.