Camellias are the winter treasures of the garden. These extraordinary plants have glossy evergreen foliage and remarkable, large winter flowers.
Choose camellias for large, striking flowers that light up the garden from the depths of winter into spring. These remarkable plants have extraordinary flowers, glossy evergreen foliage and start to flower when most of the garden is yet to stir.
The large, plump buds burst open to reveal some of the most exotic looking flowers in a range of forms and colours, so large and dramatic that you could almost believe they were silk.
There are dozens of different camellia varieties available. Don’t be bamboozled by the choice, instead choose one of our top three varieties chosen for their magnificent flowers, sequential flowering and healthy foliage.
Camellias japonica ‘Dr King’
Camellia japonica ‘Dr King’ is a delightful evergreen shrub that’s especially treasured because it starts flowering in late winter when little else is in bloom. And it also flowers for longer than many other camellias. The golden centred reddish pink flowers are simply gorgeous and light up dull days. It has large winter and spring flowers and lovely evergreen leaves. It will aslo thrive in a shady position in your garden.
Camellia japonica ‘Dr King’ makes a dramatic and lovely start to the year with its large, semi-double, reddish-pink flowers produced over a long time from February to April. The flower petals have a ruffled appearance, which help to show off the golden centres. This evergreen shrub makes a handsome addition and focal point for beds, borders and containers.
Camellias need a lime-free, acidic soil or compost – so use ericaceous compost in containers – and prefer light shade. It looks great in large pots, and even when not in bloom, the lustrous foliage provides year-round colour and interest.
Grows to a height 200cm (80in) and spread of 200cm (80in).
Camellia japonica ‘Golden Anniversary’
You don’t need a special anniversary to grow this delightful camellia. But if you are looking for a present for a Golden anniversary then this would be a fabulous choice.
Camellia japonica ‘Golden Anniversary’ is a relatively rare and especially stunning camellia with the prettiest fully double, creamy-white flowers. Camellia japonica Golden Anniversary, also known as Camellia ‘Dahlohnega’, is a fabulous evergreen shrub, and one of the best camellias to grow in a container too. It has large creamy white spring flowers and lovely evergreen leaves and is the perfect choice for growing in a pot.
Camellia japonica ‘Golden Anniversary’ was originally registered under the name Dahlohnega, but Golden Anniversary is the name most people know it by. It produces a dramatic display thanks to its unusual, nearly perfectly symmetrical, double, creamy-white flowers with a deeper centre, which draws your eye in. These are produced in large numbers in mid and late spring. This evergreen shrub makes a handsome addition and focal point for beds, borders and containers.
Camellias need a lime-free, acidic soil or compost – so use ericaceous compost in containers – and they prefer light shade. It looks great in large pots, and even when not in bloom, the lustrous foliage provides year-round colour and interest. Give one to celebrate a Golden Wedding anniversary.
Grows to a height of 150cm (60in) and spread of 200cm (80in).
Camellia ‘Lady Campbell’
This is one of the finest camellias to grow for its flower power. Produces masses of stunning vibrant, rich red, double flowers that will delight you from April to the end of May. For years and years! Neat and compact, it’s one of the finest camellias to grow in containers. It’s glorious bright red, double flowers provide vibrant colour and are great for cutting, to enjoy indoors and in bouquets. This variety will thrive in shady positions and has lovely rich green, evergreen leaves.
Camellia ‘Lady Campbell’ is a spectacular variety of camellia producing large, bright red, double flowers, up to 10cm (4in) across, with symmetrical petal arrangement – a very typical-looking camellia. These are set off by its dark green, glossy, evergreen foliage. It is a prolific flowering shrub with a late season for camellias, bearing blooms from April through to the end of May.
Camellias need a lime-free, acidic soil or compost – so use ericaceous compost in containers – and prefer light shade. ‘Lady Campbell‘ is an upright, compact shrub perfect for beds, borders and containers. Even when flowering has finished, it still has great ornamental value from its evergreen, leaves.
Grows to a height of 200cm (80in) and a spread 150cm (60in).
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