Camellia sasanqua Versicolor

Camellia sasanqua 'Versicolor' is an absolutely delightful variety of autumn camellia. This bush distinguishes itself from the typical species with its white flowers beautifully edged in lavender pink and edged in bright pink, but also with the powerful and sweet fragrance of its blooms.  With a very compact upright habit, it carries throughout the year extremely dark foliage, almost black in colour, with a matte finish. It is hardy and capable of adapting to windy or sunny situations, however it requires a soil that is cool in summer and free of limestone. A marvel, to be installed in a beautiful ceramic pot on the terrace, or near the house to enjoy every time you pass by.

Obtained in 1940 by K. Sawada in the USA, the Camellia sasanqua Versicolor was introduced in France in the 1950s. It belongs, like all camellias, to the family of Theaceae and has given rise to many highly fragrant cultivars. With rather fast growth it forms a bush with a flexible but upright habit, compact, reaching 1 m (3 ft) to 1.20 m (4 ft) in height and 80 to 90 cm (35 in) in width in 10 years. The foliage is remarkable: dense and evergreen, it is composed of small leaves tinted mahogany at budburst, whose colour quickly evolves to such a dark green that they appear almost black against the light. They are ovate and leathery, finely toothed along the edges.

Its remarkably long flowering extends from October to December, sometimes until February in mild climates. Initially round pink buds appear, followed by bicoloured flowers, 4 to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, single, resembling those of Japanese anemones: a corolla of 5 to 7 irregularly edged white petals, with a bright pink underside, surrounding a heart of golden yellow stamens that reveal themselves late. The flowers are highly fragrant and ephemeral, but continuously renew on the plant, leaving a carpet of petals on the ground like cherry trees in Japan. Their fragrance evokes that of jasmine tea, with hints of plum. This camellia is hardy down to -12°C (10.4 °F).

Camellia sasanqua 'Versicolor', just like its Japanese parent, tolerates the sun and windy conditions much better than other camellias. Its habit is more flexible, its appearance more natural, and its flowering is infinitely delicate. It performs better in mild climates than in cold regions, where its hardiness is sometimes insufficient and its flowering destroyed. Wherever winter is not too harsh it can be installed as a standalone specimen in the garden, or combined with other ericaceous plants (Rhododendron, deciduous azaleas, Hydrangea, Hamamelis), in a flowering hedge. The Camellia 'Versicolor' deserves a prime location close to the house, at the entrance of the garden or alongside a path. You can also adorn its base with autumn bulbs such as colchicums or cyclamen. In cold regions it can be placed on a balcony or terrace, to be brought inside a veranda or cold greenhouse during its flowering period. If necessary it can be protected from the cold inside the (minimally heated) house, provided its foliage is regularly misted and it is watered with non-calcereous water.