Camellia williamsii EG Waterhouse

Camellia x williamsii 'EG Waterhouse' is part of a series of quite old hybrids, known for their hardiness and ease of cultivation in a cool and humid climate. They were obtained by cross-breeding the famous Camellia japonica and C.saluenensis, a robust Chinese species much less known to gardeners. 'EG Waterhouse', awarded for its exceptional qualities, is perhaps the most elegant of all: with an erect and bushy habit, it offers double flowers with overlapping petals of a fresh and vivid pink, whose beautiful shape is reminiscent of some roses. They bloom abundantly for 3 months, from late winter to spring, on lush evergreen foliage. Its slender habit and its flowering, as bright as it is refined, work wonders in a flowering hedge but also in a pot on the terrace.

The Camellia 'EG Waterhouse' belongs to the Theaceae family. It is one of the best williamsii hybrids, introduced to the market in 1955 from Australia. Its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden have been rewarded by the National Camellia Hall of Fame in the USA. Its growth is rather fast. The bush shows an erect and bushy habit, supported by well-branched vegetation. At maturity, it will measure about 2.20 m (7 ft) in height and 1.50 m (5 ft) in width. From March to May it produces an abundance of double flowers, 10 cm (4 in) wide, composed of numerous silky petals that overlap in several regular rows. At blooming, the flower is slightly globular and of a light and vivid fuchsia pink. At full bloom, it opens more widely in a lighter pink while revealing a bright yellow stamen centre. These flowers gracefully fade, dropping their petals like snow on the ground.

Its evergreen foliage is composed of large elliptical leaves, 10 to 12 cm (4-5 in) long, leathery, finely toothed, dark green and glossy on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -15°C (5 °F) in open ground, its flowering may be compromised by snow, icy wind, and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F), especially if grown in a pot.

Camellia williamsii EG Waterhouse is a hardy plant, but it particularly thrives in mild and humid climates and flourishes best in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It will accept full sun in consistently moist soil and a favourable climate, but it is in partial shade or even shade, protected from scorching sun and sheltered from strong winds, that it will give its best. Plant in e.g. a mixed hedge or within a shrub border alongside other camellias ('Donation') or other acid-loving plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, Japanese maples or Kalmia Latifolia. However it would be a shame to drown this magnificent variety in a jumble of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place near the entrance of the house, against a north- or east-facing wall, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in very cold climates. This camellia can also be an excellent alternative to roses for ornamenting humid and semi-shaded areas. Combined in a sunny border, their blooms will succeed one another from March... to October!

Note: unlike rhododendrons, camellias tolerate pot cultivation very well, including non-dwarf varieties. Their compact clump root system is content with a fairly restricted space, as long as it is regularly fed and watered (with non-calcareous water).