Camellia japonica Valtevareda

Camellia japonica 'Valtevareda' is one of those timeless old varieties of Japanese camellia that symbolise Italian chic. Its flowers are very large, very double, more than perfect, and of an irrefutable pink, sometimes powdered with white, that almost makes your mouth water. It is a vigorous and hardy shrub with a nice compact and erect habit, easy to include in a large pot or small garden, close to the house. Its elegantly beautiful foliage is attractive throughout the year and its flowering, which occurs at the end of the Japanese camellia season, brings a unique splendour to spring. It is a safe bet, always highly appreciated in gardens with mild and humid climates.

The 'Valtevareda' Camellia, introduced to Italy around 1850, belongs to the Theaceae family, like its ancestor the Camellia japonica. It is a fairly branching bush with an erect habit which will reach about 1.20 m (4 ft) in height and 1 m (3 ft) in width at 10 years old. At maturity, after 15 to 20 years, it can measure about 2 m (6-7 ft) in height and 1.50 m (5 ft) in width, depending on the growing conditions. In April-May it produces large flower buds that open into 9 cm (3.5 in) diameter flowers with a depth of 4 cm (1.6 in), perfectly formed, composed of 40 firm, wide and rounded petals, in a shell-like shape, regularly overlapping, arranged in 9 to 10 rows. The petals located in the centre of the corolla gradually reduce in size. It is quite common, under certain climatic conditions, for a few small white spots to appear on the pink petals. The foliage, evergreen throughout the year, consists of large elliptical leaves, 8-9 cm (3.5 in) long and 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide, leathery, finely dentate on the edges, dark green and slightly glossy on the upper surface. While this bush is hardy down to -15°C in the ground, its flower buds can be destroyed by snow, icy winds, and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

The 'Valtevareda' Japanese Camellia prefers rather mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acid, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It will tolerate non-scorching sun in favourable climates but it is in partial shade or even shade, protected from intense sunlight and sheltered from strong winds, that it will give its best. Plant it in e.g. a shrub bed alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or even Kalmia Latifolia. 'Valtevareda', with its striking elegance, is a grand classic that deserves a prominent 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.