Camellia Winter Group
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-MEE-lee-ah
- Description
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Ackerman hybrids were developed for cold hardiness after a series of cold winters nearly destroyed the collections of Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua at the U.S. National Arboretum. Since C. oleifera showed no injury, Dr. William Ackerman made interspecific crosses between this and C. sasanqua, C. hiemalis, or C. vernalis selections. The resulting hybrids released in 1991 showed little or no winter injury as far north as USDA Zone 6 or as cold as -10 ° F in sheltered locations.
The Winter Series hybrids are fall-blooming camellias that provide much welcome winter interest. They make great landscape plants due to their evergreen glossy bright green leaves and attractive flowers that come in white and shades of pink. Many will flower as soon as the second year from root cuttings and produce flowers that do not shatter after being cut. Mass plant them in the middle of a border, or they make good specimen plants, foundation plantings, or naturalistic plantings at the edge of woodlands. These plants are mildly resistant to damage by deer.
Learn more about the cultivars: 'Snow Flurry'; 'Winter's Charm'; 'Winter's Rose'; 'Winter's Hope'; 'Polar Ice'; 'Winter's Star'; 'Winter's Interlude'; 'Winter's Snowman'
Insect and Disease Problems: Camellias are susceptible to viruses and some fungal diseases such as dieback, cankers, flower blight, and root rot. Watch for scales, aphids, planthoppers, and spider mites. They are especially problematic on stressed plants.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common camellia diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Carolina Moonmist'
Camellia oleifera X Camellia sasanqua hybrid, salmon pink - 'Frost Princess'
Lavender pink flower; semi-double to anemone form; compact; cold hardy - 'Pink Icicle'
Shell pink; large peony form; compact growth; cold hardy
'Polar Ice'
- 'Winter's Cupid'
Small white, flush pink at apex; semi-double flowers; cold hardy - 'Winter's Darling'
Small deep pink flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Dream'
Medium pink flower; semi-double; compact, upright growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Fire'
Medium reddish pink flower; semi-double; upright growth; cold hardy
'Winter's Hope'
- 'Winter's Joy'
Medium pink flower; semi-double fluted petals; upright growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Peony'
Small light pink flower; peony to rose form double; upright, dense growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Red Rider'
Small lavender pink flower; single form; upright, dense growth; cold hardy
'Winter's Rose'
- 'Winter's Waterlily'
Small/medium white flower; anemone/formal double form; upright growth; cold hardy
Medium white flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Snow Flurry'
Small white flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Charm'
Medium lavender pink flower; semi-double peony form; upright growth; cold hardy
Medium white flower; semi-double; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Interlude'
Small pink flower; anemone form; dense upright; cold hardy
Shell pink flower; formal double form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Snowman'
Small white semi-double flower; upright growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Star'
Large violet pink flower; single form; compact, upright growth; cold hardy - 'Carolina Moonmist'
- 'Carolina Moonmist', 'Frost Princess', 'Pink Icicle', 'Polar Ice', 'Snow Flurry', 'Winter's Charm', 'Winter's Cupid', 'Winter's Darling', 'Winter's Dream', 'Winter's Fire', 'Winter's Hope', 'Winter's Interlude', 'Winter's Joy', 'Winter's Peony', 'Winter's Red Rider', 'Winter's Rose', 'Winter's Snowman', 'Winter's Star', 'Winter's Waterlily'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carolina Moonmist'
Camellia oleifera X Camellia sasanqua hybrid, salmon pink - 'Frost Princess'
Lavender pink flower; semi-double to anemone form; compact; cold hardy - 'Pink Icicle'
Shell pink; large peony form; compact growth; cold hardy
'Polar Ice'
- 'Winter's Cupid'
Small white, flush pink at apex; semi-double flowers; cold hardy - 'Winter's Darling'
Small deep pink flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Dream'
Medium pink flower; semi-double; compact, upright growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Fire'
Medium reddish pink flower; semi-double; upright growth; cold hardy
'Winter's Hope'
- 'Winter's Joy'
Medium pink flower; semi-double fluted petals; upright growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Peony'
Small light pink flower; peony to rose form double; upright, dense growth; cold hardy - 'Winter's Red Rider'
Small lavender pink flower; single form; upright, dense growth; cold hardy
'Winter's Rose'
- 'Winter's Waterlily'
Small/medium white flower; anemone/formal double form; upright growth; cold hardy
Medium white flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Snow Flurry'
Small white flower; anemone form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Charm'
Medium lavender pink flower; semi-double peony form; upright growth; cold hardy
Medium white flower; semi-double; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Interlude'
Small pink flower; anemone form; dense upright; cold hardy
Shell pink flower; formal double form; spreading growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Snowman'
Small white semi-double flower; upright growth; cold hardy 'Winter's Star'
Large violet pink flower; single form; compact, upright growth; cold hardy - 'Carolina Moonmist'
- 'Carolina Moonmist', 'Frost Princess', 'Pink Icicle', 'Polar Ice', 'Snow Flurry', 'Winter's Charm', 'Winter's Cupid', 'Winter's Darling', 'Winter's Dream', 'Winter's Fire', 'Winter's Hope', 'Winter's Interlude', 'Winter's Joy', 'Winter's Peony', 'Winter's Red Rider', 'Winter's Rose', 'Winter's Snowman', 'Winter's Star', 'Winter's Waterlily'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Camellia
- Family:
- Theaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- U.S. National Arboretum’s Breeding Program
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly deer resistant, resistant to cold
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Insignificant small woody capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flower forms, fragrance, size and color vary depending on the hybrid cross
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, leathery, glossy dark green with crenate to moderately serrate margins
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth sandy brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
