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Camellia Hybrids Camellia Winter Group

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Description

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.

More information on Camellia japonica.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#evergreen#hardy#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#winter interest#cottage garden#mass planting#deer resistant#glossy leaves#children's garden#foundation planting#frost tolerant#showstopper#cutting garden#screening#Asian garden#evergreen shrub#sensory garden#border middle#winter flowers#container plant#hedge#woodland#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#evergreen#hardy#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#winter interest#cottage garden#mass planting#deer resistant#glossy leaves#children's garden#foundation planting#frost tolerant#showstopper#cutting garden#screening#Asian garden#evergreen shrub#sensory garden#border middle#winter flowers#container plant#hedge#woodland#accent
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    Smooth sandy brown bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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