Camellia japonica Holly Bright

Camellia 'Holly Bright' is a fairly recent variety of Japanese camellia, unique for its evergreen undulate and dentate foliage that resembles holly.  Its winter blooms, similar to that of peonies, are charming: large semi-double flowers in bright salmon red, beautifully crumpled and enhanced by golden stamens. Vigorous, with an upright but compact habit, this bush can be grown in a large pot on the terrace or balcony for many years. In the ground, it will bring a lot of joy to the surroundings of the house when the garden is still asleep. 

Camellia 'Holly Bright', introduced in 1985 in the U.S.A., belongs to the family of Theaceae. It is a bushy and dense shrub with an erect and dense habit, with deep roots, which will reach approximately 1.2 m (4 ft) in height and 70 cm (28 in) in width after 10 years. At maturity, after 15 to 20 years, it can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) in height and 1 m (3 ft) in width in the right conditions. From February to April (earlier or later depending on the climate) it offers numerous and large semi-double flowers, 11 cm (4 in) in diameter, with silky petals, finely veined and slightly crumpled, revealing a heart filled with fully bloomed yellow stamens. Its foliage persists in winter, the large elliptical leaves measuring 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) in length are leathery, dark green and glossy on the upper side. The border of the lamina is undulate and finely serrated. 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).

Camellia japonica 'Holly Bright' thrives in mild and humid climates and flourishes in coastal regions with acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It will tolerate full sun in favourable climates but will give its best in partial shade, protected from scorching sun and sheltered from strong winds. Plant in e.g. a shrub bed along with other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, Hamamelis, Pieris, or even Kalmia Latifolia. But camellias deserve a special place, either near the entrance of the house or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in cold climates.