Camellia Cinnamon Cindy

Camellia 'Cinnamon Cindy' is a graceful, light, fast-growing variety of camellia, with a thousand almost-white peony-like flowers that are deliciously scented with cinnamon. This bush, dressed in beautiful evergreen foliage, is studded with small double flowers, continuously blooming from January to April. With an elegant habit, this excellent variety tolerates sunny exposures better than others. If you don't normally appreciate the somewhat stiff and artificial look of Japanese camellias, you will surely be seduced by this one!

Hybrid camellias like 'Cinnamon Cindy' belong to the family Theaceae, like the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). They are compact and bushy plants with evergreen foliage that flower from January to April depending on the variety. Less sophisticated than their close relative the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), they work well in a small hedge or in ericaceous beds. They prefer an oceanic climate, mild and humid, and non-calcareous soils.

The cultivar 'Cinnamon Cindy', first introduced in the United States in 1974, is the result of cross-breeding between a Camellia japonica ('Ken'yôtai' ) and the botanical species Camellia lutchuensis. It has a free, flexible, upright and conical habit, and its growth is very fast for a camellia: under good growing conditions, its stems can grow up to 1 metre (3 feet) per year. Within 4 years, it forms a bush 2 m (6.5 ft) tall and 1 m (3 ft) wide, sometimes more. This variety blooms from December in mild climates, but more often from February to April. It produces a large quantity of small flowers with 18 petals and 22 petaloids, 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 in) wide and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep, grouped in small clusters in the axils of the leaves, all along the branches. The rose-coloured flower buds open into pale pink flowers that quickly fade to white. Late in the blooming process, the flower reveal sa few stamens with orange anthers at its centre. Their subtle, spicy and sweet fragrance evokes that of the botanical camellia lutchuensis. The flowers detach from the branches before wilting, forming a snow of white petals at the base of the bush.

At budburst, the young leaves are coppery and gradually turn a rather dark olive green. They are thin, oval-shaped and pointed, measuring no more than 5 cm (2 in) in length and have toothed edges. Hardy down to -14C, this variety can be grown in partial shade, but also in full sun.

Planted in a mild and humid garden with an oceanic climate, Camellia Cinnamon Cindy will thrive. It does not appreciate dense shade and tolerates a sunny site that is not scorching quite well. Wherever the winter is relatively mild, it can be planted in the garden as a solitary specimen or in combination with other acid-loving plants (Rhododendron, azaleas, Hydrangea, Hamamelis, Pieris...) in a shrub bed. Its wild plant appearance and delicate flowering work wonders in a natural or romantic garden, with a Chimonanthus praecox for example. You can also plant spring bulbs (daffodils, tulips, wood hyacinths) or autumn bulbs, such as colchicum or Naples cyclamen, around its base. In colder regions, it can be grown in a container on the balcony or terrace, and brought indoors to a veranda or cold greenhouse during the flowering period.