Camellias – Types & Great Varieties at Sky for 2024
The camellia is the acknowledged queen of Seattle’s winter gardens. Camellias can grow into regal and commanding twenty-foot shrubs if you give them the room and time, or you can keep many varieties in containers or constrained spaces as a more modest accent plant. Their glossy evergreen foliage is attractive year-round in the landscape, but it is their generous display of colorful winter blooms that really makes them stand out!
Read on below to learn more about the different types of camellias and some of the best and most reliable varieties available at Sky.
SASANQUA vs JAPONICA
There are two main groups of camellias, sasanqua and japonica.
When you think of Camellia sasanqua, think earlier, smaller, sunnier. Sasanquas generally bloom from fall into winter and grow more compactly than japonicas with smaller leaves and flowers. However, they are much more tolerant of sunny conditions in the NW, especially with good soil and adequate water. Also, this is generally the variety that you will see 'espaliered' onto a trellis.
When you think of Camellia japonica, think later, bigger, and shadier. Japonicas bloom from winter into spring, or in spring proper. They can grow into large shrubs, and generally have larger leaves and flowers. Most varieties prefer morning sun or light shade, and thrive in our NW acidic soil.
One small trick for telling your japonicas from your sasanquas? Look at how the flowers fall from the shrub. When the bloom is spent, japonica flowers will fall off in one big piece, whereas sasanqua blooms fall in a cascade of individual petals beneath the shrub. For this reason, sasanquas are considered just a bit 'neater' because their individual petals break down and disappear much faster than entire japonica flower heads.
C. sasanqua
'Apple Blossom'
Vigorous upright plant grows to 10'. Covered October-December with single blooms, white blushed pink. Very profuse bloomer!
C. sasanqua
'Kanjiro'
Upright bushy plant grows 6-8'. Vivid cerise pink flowers are single to semi-double, and slightly fragrant!
C. sasanqua
'Yuletide'
Upright dense plant grows 8-10'. Fragrant single flowers cover this plant from fall through after Christmas!
C. japonica
'Nuccio's Bella Rossa'
Nuccio bred this beauty to combine vigor with a compact form and long bloom time. Growing 6-8' tall with an upright habit, it's covered from March to May with these gorgeous red formal blooms.
C. japonica
'Unryu'
This unusual camellia also stays more compact than many japonicas, but what really stands out are the zig-zag branches! The rose-red single flowers adorn it February and March.
C. japonica
'Debutante'
Don't let the delicacy of these flowers fool you--'Debutante' is a vigorous plant who can ultimately grow 6-15'. She's also both more cold-hardy (to 5 degrees F) and more sun-tolerant than most japonicas. The pastel pink, full flowers cover her from January to May.
HYBRIDS
Sky also carries hybrid camellias, which are often both compact and long-flowering. One exciting addition to our hybrid selections this year: we were able to get in a very limited number of the new Camellia x ‘Yume’ (“Dream” in Japanese).
Camellia x 'Yume'
Even in the container, these little beauties are absolutely covered with single, pink-and-white flowers (often striped, and each plant a little different). Yume has a dense, upright form and will bloom from October through February!
Don't see a variety you love above? Don't worry, Sky has a fantastic selection this time of year, (over 2 dozen varieties!) most in bloom or in bud. Check out the full list here. And, contrary to what you might think, now is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Wintertime offers a chance for them to put down strong roots before spring calls them to stretch their branches. So get winter’s queen now to add elegance, color and interest to your garden or deck!
If you're looking for more advice on caring for these beautiful, tough shrubs year-round, check out our care sheet here, or feel free to come in and chat with our tree and shrub team for personalized advice. We're always here to help.
Sky Nursery receives new camellias every fall and winter and available stock is constantly changing. See something you like? Please feel free to give us a call to confirm that it's available.