Camellia hiemalis Bonanza

Camellia x hiemalis 'Bonanza', a type of autumn camellia, is a small evergreen shrub with a rounded and bushy habit, decorative with its dense dark green foliage, but especially with its long flowering period from October to January. It tirelessly blooms on glossy leaves with small double peony-like flowers, with irregular petals, of an intense pinkish-red color and particularly cheerful during the gloomy winter days. The very frilled corolla heart timidly reveals a handful of golden stamens. This modest-sized variety can be grown in a nice pot on the terrace or in the garden, placed in the centre of a flower bed or in a flowering hedge. Fairly hardy (down to -12°C (10.4 °F)), this camellia appreciates sun or partial shade, and a limestone-free soil that remains moist in summer.

'Bonanza' autumn camellia is a hybrid of the Theaceae family, classified in the 'hiemalis' category. This group gathers a number of varieties probably resulting from the spontaneous cross-breeding between Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica. The 'Bonanza' variety forms a shrub with a bushy habit and long branches, growing quite slowly, reaching a height of 1m (3 ft) and a width of 90cm (35 in) at 10 years. Its adult size can reach 1.5m to 2m (5 to 6.5 ft). Its autumn and winter flowering extends until January. Round buds appear at first, bright red followed by 6 to 7cm (2.4 to 2.8 in) double flowers, with undulating and irregular petals. A heart of golden yellow stamens is partially revealed later on. The flowers are not long-lasting, staying only 2 or 3 days, but they continuously renew themselves on the plant, leaving a carpet of petals on the ground like Japanese cherry trees. The dense and evergreen foliage is composed of beautiful dark green leaves, very shiny, elliptical, measuring from 6 to 9cm (3.5 in) long and 3 to 4cm (1.6 in) wide.

Camellia x hiemalis 'Bonanza', just like its Japanese parent, tolerates sun and windy conditions better than other camellias. It performs better in mild climates than in cold regions, where its hardiness is sometimes insufficient and its flowering can be destroyed. Wherever winters are not too harsh it can be planted in the garden as a standalone specimen, or combined with other acid-loving plants (Rhododendron, azaleas, Hydrangea, Hamamelis) in a flowering hedge. This camellia deserves a prime location, at the entrance of the garden or along a pathway. You can also dress its base with autumn bulbs such as colchicums or Naples cyclamens. In cold regions, it can be placed on a balcony or terrace, to be brought inside to a veranda or cold greenhouse during the flowering period. If necessary it can be protected from the cold inside the house, as long as the foliage is misted regularly with a spray bottle, and the plant is watered with non-calcereous water.