Camellia japonica Adolphe Audusson

Camelia 'Adolphe Audusson', obtained in France in 1877 by its eponymous creator, remains the most popular and widespread of French origin camellias, due to its abundant flowering and its ease of cultivation in cool to humid climates. This variety of Camellia japonica is particularly hardy, floriferous and vigorous. The shrub, with a rather upright habit and dark, glossy evergreen foliage, very ornamental, disappears in late winter and early spring under a multitude of large, open semi-double flowers, dark red sometimes marked with white, with conspicuous stamens of golden yellow. Decorates the garden from the earliest days of spring!

Camellia 'Adolphe Audusson' belongs to the family of tea plants, just like its ancestor the Camellia japonica. It is a bushy and upright shrub with deep roots, which will reach about 1m (3 ft) in height and 1.20m (4 ft) in width at 10 years old. From February to April it produces a quite exceptional abundance of fairly large semi-double flowers, with silky petals, of geranium red with a large cluster of yellow stamens in the centre. Its evergreen foliage is composed of large elliptical leaves, 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) long, leathery, dark green and glossy on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -15°C (5 °F) in the ground, flowering may be compromised by snow, icy wind and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

The 'Adolphe Audusson' Japanese Camellia thrives in mild and humid climates and performs best in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil. It will tolerate full sun in favourable climates but it is in partial shade, protected from scorching sun and sheltered from strong winds, that it will perform best. In the garden you can place it in a shrub bed alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, Japanese maples or even Kalmia Latifolia. But it would be a shame to drown this 'Adolphe Audusson' variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place near the entrance of the house, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be put away in winter in very cold climates.