Camellia hiemalis Elfin rose

Autumn camellia 'Elfin Rose' (Camellia × hiemalis) is a highly decorative variety for autumn and winter gardens. Due to its late, bright pink flowering, which spreads from October to December, this evergreen bush brings life and colour to a time of year when few other plants are in flower. In a border, as a standalone specimen, or in a pot, it performs particularly well under a cool, humid oceanic climate. Its glossy green foliage and elegant silhouette make it an interesting structural plant in a landscape display.

This hybrid camellia belongs to the Theaceae family. The name hiemalis means "of winter", and the hybrid × hiemalis designates autumn cultivars resulting from cross-breeding, often between the wild Camellia sasanqua and late Japanese forms. The variety 'Elfin Rose' is also marketed under the name Camellia sasanqua 'Elfin Rose'.
'Elfin Rose' is an old selection, named in the United States in 1956 by McCaskill Gardens, Pasadena. Some Asian catalogues also attribute an origin in China/Taiwan.
The bush has an upright habit supported by rigid stems. In the ground, it reaches 1 m in height with an 80 cm spread at 10 years old. Ultimately, under good conditions, it will measure 4 to 8 m tall and 2.50 m to 4 m wide.
The evergreen leaves are elliptical to ovate in shape, shiny, dark green, with a slightly toothed edge. The stems are quite robust. 
It flowers from October to December, depending on the climate. The slightly fragrant flowers are semi-double in the shape of a "rose" (i.e., a rosette of overlapping petals), 7-8 cm wide, in shades of deep pink to medium pink. This camellia is hardy down to -10/-12°C in a sheltered position.

'Elfin Rose' should be planted in front of large shrubs or under the cover of deciduous trees, in an acidic, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, enriched with organic matter. It can also be grown in a large, 40–50 cm diameter pot. To create a coherent border all year round, pair it, for example, with Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) and with other acidophilous shrubs like Sarcococcas and Skimmias. Combine it with camellia cultivars that have staggered flowering times such as 'Showa-no-sakae' (light pink, in early winter), 'Spring Festival' (small, soft pink flowers in late winter) and 'Jury's Yellow' (cream, peony form, in spring).
This camellia is sometimes pruned into a cloud form, which enhances its silhouette while highlighting the density of its foliage.