7 essential camellias

Camellia x williamsonii 'Spring Daze', flowers that last a long time

The main asset of Camellia ‘Spring Daze’ lies in its long flowering and the excellent keeping quality of its flowers. From January (sometimes even December) to April, this classic variety is adorned with double, imbricate flowers in a lovely gradient of pale pink edged with deeper rose. Its slender habit allows it to reach up to 3 metres in height and about 2.5 metres across. It also has good hardiness down to −12°C. Very easy to integrate into the garden, this camellia can be planted as a specimen, where its decorative bark will be well showcased, in a flowering hedge or as a backdrop to a border.

Camellia x williamsii 'Donation' with lush flowering

Camellia ‘Donation’ is an old variety awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society. It is prized for its long flowering, from January to April, and for its semi-double flowers in a fresh pink that can reach 12 cm. This very floriferous variety, with an upright and slightly trailing habit, reaches 1.20 metres tall by 1 metre wide at 10 years of age. It is hardy to −15°C in the open ground. Easy to grow, this variety is ideal for beginners.

Camellia japonica Sweet Olive and its rose-shaped flowers

Camellia ‘Sweet Olive’ is a new variety that flowers from March to April with double, rose-shaped flowers. Each flower has an almost perfect geometry and declinates into a fine gradient of pink. Its imbricate petals range from white to deep pink at the edges. Bush with a bushy, erect habit reaching 1.40 metres in height flowers from March to April. Hardy down to -14°C.

Camellia japonica 'Dahlonega' with white rose-shaped flowers

From February to April, Camellia ‘Dahlonega’ is a spectacle in its own right thanks to its scented, rose-shaped flowers. Its double flowers comprise imbricate white petals with ivory highlights and a pale yellow centre. This bush, with a free, dense habit, can reach 1 metre in height and tolerate temperatures down to -15°C. Compact, it is perfectly suited to pot cultivation.

Camellia transnokoensis: simplicity and abundance of flowers of a botanical species

Camellia transnokoensis charms with an abundance of its small single white flowers (4 cm wide), slightly scented, which appear between February and April. This botany variety reaches 1.20 metres, with a supple habit, broader than tall. It tolerates temperatures down to -12°C. Simplicity is the watchword for this variety. Its rustic appearance makes it ideal in natural or romantic gardens. It can be planted as a specimen, in a pot, in a border or in a hedge.

Camellia x lutchuensis 'High Fragrance' with very fragrant peony-like flowers

Camellia ‘High Fragrance’ is one of the rustic camellias. It charms with its natural appearance but above all with its fragrance: it is probably one of the most fragrant varieties. Its large white flowers flushed with pink, 10 cm in diameter, appear between February and April on a bush 1.5 m tall at ripeness. These delightfully scented double flowers resemble peonies. This variety tolerates down to -14°C. It is suitable for both country hedgerows and container cultivation on the patio. Simply choose a spot with some foot traffic to fully enjoy its fragrance.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yume', an autumn camellia with refined and original flowers

Camellia ‘Yume’ is an iconic autumn camellia variety prized for its flowers with thin single pink and white petals. Its long, distinctive flowering spreads from October through December and sometimes into January. With a bushy, dense habit, this camellia reaches just over 1 metre in height and 1.20 metres in width. It is ideal for growing in a pot. Although it tolerates down to −12°C in the ground, we recommend bringing the pot indoors when cold weather arrives to enjoy flowering for longer.

To learn more

• All camellias in our catalogue.
• Everything to know about camellias.
• Other heather soil bushes.
• Our advice for planting heather soil bushes.
• Also discover 7 classic white camellias