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Camellia saluenensis Autumn Jewel

Camellia x saluenensis 'Autumn Jewel'
Autumn Camellia, Christmas Camellia

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A hybrid camellia with medium-sized, double pink flowers, which bloom from December to March, depending on the climate. This evergreen shrub with a bushy habit thrives in acidic, rich, and well-drained soil in bright partial shade. It is hardy down to -12°C in well-drained soil and sheltered from cold winds. You can grow it in a pot.
Flower size
9 cm
Height at maturity
1.20 m
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time January to March, December
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Description

Camellia ‘Autumn Jewel’ is a hybrid camellia whose fairly deep pink, double flowers bloom in the heart of winter. It is an elegant evergreen bush that can be used in a semi-shaded acid soil bed, a low hedge sheltered from the wind, or in a large container on a sheltered terrace. It flowers from December to March.

Botanically, ‘Autumn Jewel’ belongs to the Theaceae family. It is not a Camellia sasanqua, but a non-reticulata hybrid, originating from a sowing of Camellia saluenensis; it was registered in 2002 by Nuccio’s Nurseries (Altadena, California), a famous camellia breeder. The flower is of a formal/imbricate form, pink to salmon pink, medium-sized (approximately 8–10 cm in diameter), with numerous regular petals and no visible stamens. The flowering period runs from December to March. Its habit is bushy. In open ground, the bush can eventually reach 1.70 m in height and 1.30 m in width; in a container, its growth naturally remains smaller. The evergreen foliage is glossy and dark green. The ovate leaves with a finely toothed margin measure 5 to 10 cm in length. The root system is mostly shallow, which explains this plant's sensitivity to drought; with age, deeper roots form.
The botanical species Camellia saluenensis is native to the mountainous areas of Southwestern China (Yunnan, Salween River basin), where it grows on forest edges and in open woodlands; its hybrids with C. japonica are renowned for their floribundity and ease of cultivation in the garden.

Use ‘Autumn Jewel’ as a solitary specimen near a path or entrance, or in a low hedge against a wall facing east or north-east. On the terrace, use a 40–50 cm diameter container filled with a substrate for ericaceous plants enriched with compost.
In the garden, pair it with evergreens which are fragrant in winter, such as Sarcococca confusa, Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Tricolor’ or Daphne odora, and shade-loving perennials like evergreen ferns. You can also combine it with Camellia × williamsii ‘Donation’ with its fresh pink flowers that bloom in late winter, with varieties like ‘Jury’s Yellow’ (cream with a double centre), or ‘Setsugekka’ (very early single white) to spread out the flowering periods and vary forms and colours.

 

 

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Camellias: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Olivier 15 min.
Camellias: planting, pruning and care
Read article

Camellia saluenensis Autumn Jewel in pictures

Camellia saluenensis Autumn Jewel (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.20 m
Spread at maturity 1 m
Habit irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time January to March, December
Inflorescence Double
Flower size 9 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green
Product reference • 2502911

Planting and care

Plant Camellia ‘Autumn Jewel’ in a spot sheltered from cold winds, in spring or early autumn, in bright partial shade (east or north-east exposure) in an acidic (pH 5.5–6.5), humus-bearing and well-drained soil. In heavy soil, plant it on a mound and mix in ericaceous soil or bark compost with a little coarse sand; dig a wide rather than deep hole, position the collar at soil level, water with rainwater and mulch to a depth of 5 to 7 cm (pine bark) to retain moisture. Avoid direct morning sun in winter, as this can damage the buds and flowers when there is a frost. Water regularly in the first year, and especially in summer (bud formation period), without waterlogging the soil; after flowering, apply a slow-release fertiliser specially formulated for acid-loving shrubs.
In a pot, choose a container with a minimum diameter of 40–50 cm, with drainage holes in the bottom and a drainage layer (clay pebbles). Fill with an ericaceous substrate enriched with mature compost, water with non-calcareous water, turn the pot twice a year and repot every 2–3 years.

This camellia is hardy down to approximately −12 °C in the ground and in a protected situation; protect the base with a good mulch and avoid waterlogged soils in winter.

Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Free-standing, Container, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well-drained, humus-bearing

Care

Pruning instructions Prune each year after flowering. Avoid summer and autumn: this would remove the coming flower buds. Work in mild weather, avoiding frost. Lightly prune stems that spoil the compact appearance of the bush. Remove faded flowers if you do not want fruit, and take out dead wood.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time April
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

Planting & care advice

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