Camellia japonica Marie-Galante

Camellia japonica 'Marie-Galante', which flowered for the first time in 2009, was selected in Brittany by René Laot de Saint Thonan. It is a variety of Japanese camellia that will charm with its large double candy pink flowers of varying shapes, reminiscent of peonies or anemones. With a beautiful upright habit and fairly rapid growth, this camellia can be planted in borders, hedges, or even in a large pot on the terrace. Its elegant foliage is beautiful throughout the year and flowering lasts several weeks between late winter and early spring.

The Camellia 'Marie-Galante' belongs to the family of Theaceae. It is a camellia with fairly rapid growth that reaches approximately 1.30m (4 ft 4 in) in height and 1m (3 ft 4 in) in width within 10 years. Between February and April it produces dozens of flowers measuring approximately 10cm (3.9 in) in diameter. The flower buds are rounded and pale green to pale pink. Each flower has an average of 24 to 30 petals. Wide petals are mixed among the numerous small rounded petaloids; the (100+) petaloids are initially pale pink and then become pale salmon pink. The overall colour is a pale pink that turns almost white as time passes. In the centre of the corolla, the white stamens bear yellow anthers. The flower falls off completely when it wilts, giving the bush a consistently neat appearance. The foliage, which persists throughout the year, consists of oval, flat, leathery leaves of medium to large size. Their colour is a slightly glossy dark green. While this camellia is hardy down to -15°C in open ground, its flower buds can be destroyed by snow, icy wind, and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

The Japanese camellia 'Marie Galante' prefers mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It will tolerate not-too-strong sun, but will give its best in partial shade or even shade, protected from intense sunlight and sheltered from strong winds. In the garden you can plant it, for example, in a shrub border, alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or Kalmia Latifolia. Full of romance, 'Marie-Galante' deserves a special place near the entrance of the house, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in very cold climates.