Wintergarden

Wintergarden Catalog

An Immigrant from the Orient

Tea Plant

The camellia was introduced into western civilization around 300 years ago when plants of Camellia japonica were mistakenly substituted for Camellia sinensis (tea plants) in an order bound for Great Britain. The boldly flowering “tree of shining leaves” created a widespread sensation, quickly becoming the rage in European gardens, art and fashion.

Arriving in America just over 200 years ago, the camellia quickly became a naturalized citizen, settling primarily in the coastal areas of the Deep South. Here, a friendly climate and the hospitality of excited gardeners welcomed the discovery like a lost child returning to its rightful home. The wondrously flowering evergreen became an anchor of Southern gardens proudly representing the grace and charm associated with the Old South.

Camellias went in and out of fashion until the mid-1940s, when ever-unpredictable public interest spurred a resurrection in popularity. Gardeners and collectors formed clubs of local, state and national scope to share information and growing fascination with camellias. Camellia shows became as popular as camellia balls. Bestselling novelist Frances Parkinson Keyes was particularly fascinated by the blossom, sprinkling her New Orleans-based tales with descriptions of its beauty, and even went so far as to base an entire book about the development of a blue variety. (Unfortunately, the blue camellia lives on only within the realm of fiction.) Alabama heralded the spectacular, adopted bloom as its state flower probably to the envy of its attractive, but more humble native blossoms.

The renewed excitement of the forties and fifties created greater demands for camellia growers to develop new and different flowers. Hybridizers fed hungry appetites with dozens of introductions each year. New species of camellia were discovered and crossed with familiar japonicas to produce blooms of expanded size, different color, or sweet fragrance.

Today there are more than 20,000 registered camellias with more introductions debuting each year. Camellia nurseries continue to search for the elusive new bloom that will forever transfix the demanding devotee.

Our focus at Wintergarden, however, is not on the new as much as on the old. We appreciate the historical significance of camellias and admire them not just as producers of showy blooms, but as attractive garden plants. We believe that as the course of camellias evolved over the past decades, many wonderful, older varieties were left by the wayside. Our objective has been to relocate and reclaim as many of these now-scarce varieties as possible, and to offer them along with popular descendants.

At Wintergarden, we have been successful in our quest to uncover plants that once turned heads but somehow fell from grace. Our collections encompass four categories from Antique to Modern, depending upon the dates of plant introductions. In addition, we have an assortment of cold-hardy camellias for our northern neighbors. By constantly adding to our inventory, we believe we have a camellia for everybody. With our dedication to locate and reintroduce lost varieties, and to grow seedlings of our own, Wintergarden will make every effort to produce the finest camellias available.

Winter Is Indeed Wonderland...

Chilly days can be some of the most magical in the garden. Consider a few enthusiasts’ opinions:

“It is a strange thing that the thought of camellias, which themselves are without fragrance, should be so strongly brought to mind by certain combinations of odors. Yesterday, walking among the plants, I smelled sweet olive and wood smoke and immediately my mind traveled back, I would not like to say how many years, to a little girl, munching on a cookie and trying hard to make it last as long as possible; bundled warmly in a sweater and stocking cap, and walking slowly but not aimlessly on brick-bordered paths of an old fashioned garden which held endless mysteries of bugs and birds and flowers but whose choice bit she was saving carefully till last. Geranium leaves were to be pinched for their lasting fragrance on the fingers. Louis Phillippe roses to be beheaded and their shattering petals squeezed and rubbed on cheeks like rouge for grownups, bees observed going untidily in and out of opening blossoms and sometimes even a yellow trumpet of climbing jasmine could be salvaged from the ground where it had fallen and, warmed in cupped hands, made to smell and evoke memories of pine woods and picnics; but progress, however slow, was always toward the end of the garden where several large bushes glistened green and bright -- sweet olives and japonicas -- while all around the smell of wood smoke from fireplaces in the house reminded of grownups talking there; any moment their tea and conversation might be finished and their departure mark the end of explorations in this dusky, fragrant place. I was that little girl and it does not now seem remarkable that I should be immersed in camellias and camellia lore because my first love affair was with a camellia. . .”

— JESSIE W. KATZ

Covington, Louisiana, 1952

The Wintergarden Collection

..	Adolphe Audusson Var. - This French variety dates to 1877. In our search of old gardens it is always present, and for good reason. A show-stopper in the 1940s and 50s, Adolphe is still a strong favorite. Magical mix of red and white on large semi-double.*
...	“Dilettante gardeners love the spring and the summer; real gardeners also love the winter.” - ANNE SCOTT-JAMES
	Alba Plena. - No modern camellia has equaled the popularity, and none is likely to take replace this sentimental favorite. One of the earliest camellias to reach America (1792), Alba Plena produces medium-sized formal double white blooms early in the season.
...	Arejishi. - “Fierce Lion” came from Japan in 1891. Still beloved for the quality of its early blooms, which can open as soon as late August. Medium-sized peony-form, deep salmon rose blooms appear through the season.
...	Baby Sis. - Enchanting miniature flowers adorn this compact grower during midseason. A single row of outer petals surround a petaloid center. The pure white flowers often sport a charming ray of pink on one petal. Miniatures work well in many garden settings and Baby Sis, developed in 1958 in Georgia, is one of the best.
	Beatrix Hoyt.
	Bella Romano. - We found this amazing plant half hidden in an old, overtaken camellia collection in Battles Wharf, Ala. The bloom is spectacular: a pale pink rose-form double, splashed and striped red. Bella Romano arrived here from Italy in the early 1860s. We had heard about the bloom, but doubted we’d ever see one. Now that we have: unique, antique, and magnifique!
...	Berenice Boddy. - Not only has this 1946 introduction proved to be one of the most cold-hardy camellia japonicas ever, it also produces beautiful light pink flowers with darker undertones. The semi-double blossoms appear midseason on a strong, upright shrub.
	Betty Sheffield. - Since its introduction in 1949, this celebrated camellia has enjoyed wide popularity. Ensuring its legend is its penchant for sporting atypical bloom forms. Ergo, Betty Sheffield has produced 20 or more exciting offspring, all proud camellias of the aristocratic Betty Sheffield family. The matriarch’s bloom, is a large, white semi-double striped with red and pink.
...	Betty Sheffield Blush. - This is one of the remarkable Betty Sheffield sports that first appeared in 1958. The flower is a pale pink overall, with markings of deep pink. Flowers appear midseason, on a strong-growing, compact plant.
...	Betty Sheffield Silver. - Also appearing in 1960, this is another fine sport of Betty Sheffield. The medium-to-large informal peony flowers are blush pink bordered white with a silvery sheen. Blooms midseason on a compact grower.
...	Betty Sheffield Supreme. - A unique picoteed flower of white with a beautiful wide rose-pink border, this 1960 flower caused a sensation and remains a huge favorite to this day. Of medium growth, the loose informal double flowers sport very readily and one can expect more than one type of “Betty” on any bush.
	Bob Hope. “Thanks for the memories” to the Nuccio family in California for this incredible – almost black – red cultivar. Flowers are large, semi-double, blooming in midseason on a slow but healthy grower. This is a good candidate for a small garden.
	Black Magic. (1991) “Very dark glossy red. Unusual rose-form, almost weird. Holly-like leaves.
	Brilliant. - Purportedly first seen in Mobile in 1938, this old Blackwell Nursery introduction has proven to be a very dependable shrub. Grown for its compact habit as much as for its bloom, it is a red to rose-red sport of the Antique variety La Peppermint.
	C. M. Wilson. - This flower caused such a stir in 1949 when it first appeared as a sport on Elegans that the American Camellia Society’s benefactor, Dave Strother, immediately drove from Fort Valley, Ga., to Pensacola to view its uniquely beautiful coloration. The large anemone form flowers are light pink with darker veins. Our strain carries a soft white border. Growth is strongly upright and spreading.
...	Cameo Pink. - When we first saw this camellia blooming in an old garden, we thought it was a sasanqua. The shrub literally covers itself with blooms. The medium formal double flowers appear early to midseason. Introduced in 1938 and rarely seen today, this is a great shrub worthy of any garden
	Celebrity. - (1957) Semidouble white to blush. Delicate appearance. Upright, rapid grower.
...	Charlie Bettes. - The flowers are large to very large, semi-double, white with deep yellow stamens. Of show quality and appearing early in the season, Charlie dates to 1960 from Jacksonville, Florida. Our stock plant is a very large shrub of great vigor.
...	China Doll. - This 1958 plant was created by Hugh Shackleford of Georgia, who has developed many wonderful varieties. The shrub attracted our attention as a nice, compact grower, as well as an incredible flower. With its medium to large informal peony flowers and loose, fluted petals, it blooms midseason. Flowers are a blush color, edged in a beautiful coral pink.
	Chow’s Han Ling. - Yet another beautiful sport of the Elegans group, this shrub of compact habit appeared in 1966. The large-to-very large flowers arrive early and continue through the season. Semi-double to formal white with a blush center. Quite beautiful!
	Coletti. - Unique coloration elicits surprise and admiration from all who see Coletti’s violet-red marbled white blooms. Slow bushy growth makes this 1847 Belgian introduction very useful in the smaller garden.
	Dahlohnega. - This camellia has attracted much interest since its 1986 introduction, and deservedly so. The small-to-medium flowers are formal double –– a most beautiful antique white with light yellow shading. We are very impressed both with the flower and the good growth habit – compact, upright, and rather slow, but vigorous. Despite its relatively “newborn” status, Dahlohnega can stand beside the all-time great camellias.
	Daijohkhan. - Originally from the castle Nayoga in Japan, Daijohkhan’s reproduction was prohibited because of its status as a “palace camellia” until 1964. The castle camellia is quite a prize. Beautiful white magnolia-like flowers arrive midseason, displayed to perfection on a vigorous, upright and loose grower. Still little known, it may take its place as one of the best whites.
...	Dear Jenny. - Still popular today almost forty years after its debut and for a number of good reasons. The large semi-double blooms are pure white and of show quality. They appear incredibly throughout the season on a vigorous, dense, and upright grower. This is a good combination of show flower and garden shrub.
	Debutante. - Originating in Charleston’s famed Magnolia Gardens at the turn of the century, Debutante is aptly named and choice for cutting. The clear pink peony-form flowers begin early and continue well into the season on a strong-growing shrub.
...	Dick Rankin. - Many camellias seems to take on a blue-to-purple hue in cold weather. This variety is not limited by temperature, opening to a bold and delightful red overshadowed in blue, no matter what the weather. You need to see this one to appreciate it; it’s more than a conversation piece! The large, semi-double flowers open over an extended period on a strong grower with somewhat pendulous habit. One of the great varieties from the late T. S. Clower of Gulfport, Mississippi.
...	Donckelarri. - Still much admired 160 years after its introduction to Belgium from China, this semi-double red-mottled-white blooms continuously from early through the midseason. A slow-growing bushy plant, it is a favorite in the garden.*
...	Don-Mac. - One of the best dark red camellias, Don-Mac came from Pensacola in 1956. Flowers are medium to large, semi-double to loose peony form. They are still seen in flower shows and in gardens throughout the season. The shrub is upright and of medium growth.
	Dr. Quattlebaum. - Rediscovered in the back depths of a garden in Daphne, Ala., this one surprised us by blooming after a hard freeze when grown in the open. The semi-double flowers are a bold oriental red, blooming midseason on a compact stury shrub. The original bloomed for Coleman Nurseries of Fort Gaines, Ga., in 1955.
	Dr. Tinsley. - Imagine combining the foliage of the camellia with the delicacy of a wild rose. Therein lies the popularity of this classic plant. Having passed the test of time since its debut in 1949, the pink and white flowers are as cold-hardy as the shrub itself. Ours bloomed as well as ever following the severe freezes of 1996.
	Drama Girl. - Aptly named for the enormous blooms that were most popular in the chrome-and-fin age, Drama Girl dates to 1950. We still see trees of that era, 15 feet tall, dominating the landscape with semi-double, deep salmon-rose flowers. Blooms rival the size of any reticulata, and the growth is second to none. Give this beauty plenty of room and stand back.
	Duchess of Sutherland. - Another beautiful Magnolia Gardens variety from the 1890s. The large flat semi-double blooms are pure white with a distinctive pink stripe on one petal. Duchess of Sutherland blooms heavily in midseason on a vigorous bush.
... .	For the gardener, winter is a season in its own right, with enough time to seek out the best, often elusive scents, notice the texture of bark,enjoy shadows cast on the lawn by trees and trelliswork.” - ROSEMARY VEREY
...	Easter Morn. - Combining exceptionally strong growth and incredibly beautiful flowers, Easter Morn has gained great popularity since its introduction in 1965. It’s no wonder. The very large, baby pink flowers range from semi-double to a full peony form, and arrive mid- to late season.
	Edna Bass. - Very large deep red marbled white. Semidouble to peony, upright medium growth.
	Edna Campbell Variegated. - We were first intrigued by this most unique flower when we stumbled upon an abandoned garden. The semi-double flowers are violet-red mottled in white, and are particularly striking when the variegation is patterned with a blotch of white on each of the long slender petals. Blooms are seen all season, on a compact, rounded plant. The original dates to 1954. We believe this is another overlooked variety that is truly different.
	El Rojo.
	Eleanor Grant. - Very rare, light rose, semidouble to peony. Vigorous, upright, very early.
	Eleanor Hagood. - Bob Green Sr. was a collector of fine camellias, and Eleanor Hagood was one of his prize plants. Originating in Charleston’s Magnolia Gardens in the early 1900s, this lovely camellia produces formal double blooms shaded light pink. It is quite cold-hardy for a formal double. Growth is vigorous and upright. It has been a stalwart in the Green garden for more than 60 years.
	Elegans. - The ancestor of many of today’s camellias, Elegans is beautiful in its own right. The 1830 introduction can be seen blooming and growing beautifully in abandoned nurseries and neglected in cemeteries. It features large anemone-form flowers borne heavily on one of the most beautiful of all garden shrubs.
	Elegans Champagne. - This most recent (1975) Elegans sport is perhaps the most beautiful flower in the Modern group. The growth is spreading, with handsome serrated edges to the foliage. The typical anemone-form flowers are pure white with a creamy center, often with a blush pink tone.The large blooms appear early to midseason. Champagne is a valuable addition to the camellia collection.
...	Elegans Supreme. - The difference in this Elegans lies in the deeply fimbriated petaloids which may be pink or white. Growth seems to be more upright as in the original Elegans, but with serrated leaves more typical of the modern sports. Elegans Supreme first appeared in Pensacola, Florida, in 1960.
. ...	Elisabeth. - This strong-growing camellia can be traced to Italy, c. 1845. Though the blooms cannot tolerate the cold, we highly recommend this variety for warmer climes. Wintergarden has a 60-year-old plant that rarely fails to bloom well. The small, perfectly formed formal flowers can range from pure white to pink and white striped, to pure pink.
...	Elizabeth Le Bey Variegated. - From Pensacola in 1948 came this wonderful shrub. The strong grower has a charming pendulous habit. Blossoms are large deep rose pink and loose peony form. Perhaps the best attribute is the long blooming period throughout winter.
	Faith.- One of the most vigorous camellias, Faith makes a bold statement in the garden panorama. It is little-known but revered by those fortunate enough to have an old specimen. The towering growth displays large clear pink anemone-form flowers in midseason. Blooms best in a semi-shaded location. Faith came from Biloxi, Miss., in 1956.
	Fashionata. - Another camellia not widely grown; this puzzles us. We find Fashionata to be uniquely qualified to be in anyone’s collection. It is a great garden grower with strong upright growth, and can become a large specimen in a short time – so be sure to use it to great effect as a showpiece! The flowers are an unusual shade of pink, almost an apricot with a silvery sheen. Fashionata is a large semi-double, with petaloids and/or stamens. Introduced in Mobile in 1964, it is a midseason performer.
	Fimbriata. - This most delicate of flowers is the subject of a Redoute painting. A softly fringed sport of Alba Plena, it first bloomed in 1816. Not nearly as famous as Alba Plena, Fimbriata has the same good quality of early blooms. The fimbriated flowers are a pleasant bonus.
. ...	Finlandia. - One of the most beautiful of all white camellias, Finlandia was brought to America from Japan in 1910. The medium semi-double flowers are superbly fluted. Sports often appear, with various degrees of rose streaking through the flower.
	Frank Houser.
...	Frizzle White. - Why this camellia is no longer in the trade is a complete mystery to us. With its beautiful twisted glossy leaves and strong growth it could win a place in the garden without blooming. Blossoms are incredible large semi-doubles, pure white with a crinkled texture. Older camellia yearbooks describe new flowers of the day as “similar to Frizzle White”, yet few match the beauty of the original. Introduced by K. Sawada of Overlook Nursery in 1935.
	Glen 40. - This 1942 release has everything you’d want in a red camellia. Form, texture, color and abundant bloom all come together on a slow compact grower, very cold-resistant. Unquestionably one of the best of the red-flowered camellias.
. ...	Governor Mouton. - From unknown origin c. 1900, the Governor and its synonym, Aunt Jetty, have won a spot in many gardens for the dependability of midseason blooms in cold weather, and for its fine growth habit. Flowers are a loose, peony oriental red, often splotched with white.
...	Grace Albritton. - Much more than a miniature curiosity, Grace Albritton remains popular today, more than 25 years after its debut. The small formal double flowers are produced freely on a vigorous shrub. The petite cutflowers are white with deep pink edges, and win many awards still. Very cold hardy.
...	Grand Prix. - It’s hard to say which is more striking –– Grand Prix or Grand Slam. Either one is a great garden camellia. Grand Prix came from Nuccio Nursery in 1969. The very large flowers are brilliant red semi-double with irregular petals.

...	Guilio Nuccio Variegated. - One of many beautiful varieties from the Nuccio family of California, this 1956 introduction captured the camellia world by storm with its six-inch flowers of intense coral-rose to red. Patches of white seem to make the red more intense. Blossoms have a nice velvety texture and wavy irregularity- a fine flower for cutting.
	Gus Menard. - Very rapid upright grower with heavy dark green leaves. Large loose peony flowers are white with a distinctive canary-yellow center. A great performer that first appeared in the Judice Garden in New Orleans.
. ...	Haku-tsura. - (White Crane) This beautiful camellia is breathtaking, interesting in both flower and shrub with Imura-like blooms and leaves that resemble Magnoliaeflora. We grafted a scion and later identified the camellia as White Crane, an ancient variety that arrived from Japan in the early 1930s. The simple, single blossoms are sheer white and bloom in midseason.
	Hana-Fuki. (Chalice) - Imported from Japan into California in 1930, this plant withits beautiful flower is almost unheard of these days. Our specimen attracts much attention for the beauty of its bloom. Soft pink blossoms are crepe paper textured and cup-shaped. Beautiful in its simplicity of form, this shrub is a strong-growing, compact plant.
	Helen Bower Variegated.
	Helen Christian.
	Herme. - Fragrance is an unusual feature of Herme. The semi-double flowers often sport several variations on the same bush. Herme was best described by Sterling Macoboy as a dark salmon pink bordered with white and streaked with scarlet. Many old gardens still boast a Herme a testament to the durability of one of the greatest camellias.
	High Fragrance. Very fragrant hybrid. Large double pink blends. Upright, spreading, open growth.
. ...	Hishi-Karaito. - Dating back to 1875, Hishi-Karaito yields a small bloom and a big impact. Light pink, semi-double flowers with a mass of centered white petaloids give this impressive antique a bold and delicate look. Long, dark, narrow leaves stir its flavor, rendering the foliage as striking as the bloom.*
	Holly Bright. - The foliage alone is enough to recommend this wonderful 1985 release from Nuccio’s in California. In fact, it was the unusual, shiny, holly-like foliage that first intrigued us. While growing this shrub, we discovered good, compact strong growth and a surprisingly good flower of glossy salmon red. Blossoms are large semi-double, and appear midseason.
...	Hopkin’s Pink. - There are no less than seven variations of this flower in the Camellia Register. Therefore we cannot guarantee the bloom color, but that should just makes things more interesting. What you might expect is a miniature peony form pink with some red on the flower. Vigorous, compact, blooms miseason. Dates to 1947.
	Imura. - The many wonderful varieties given us by K. Sawada include this remarkable 1929 gift. Grown as much for its graceful weeping habit as for the beautiful, simple white flowers, Imura blooms midseason on a very cold-hardy bush. Our stock plant dates to the 1930s and continues to draw raves, whether in or out of bloom.
. ...	Iwane Shibori. - A variety sold to Victorian gardeners under the name Mars, Iwane Shibori traces back to 1877 in Japan. It blooms midseason with beautiful semi-double flowers of rose-red with a white moire pattern. Slow but steady growth.*
	James Hyde Porter. - A strong-growing handsome plant, James Hyde Porter will reward you with a spectacular display from late autumn through Christmas. The flowers are a medium-size loose peony, white striped pink, to pink striped white. We consider this rare gem perhaps the best of the early bloomers. James Hyde Porter was introduced in Georgia in 1942.
	Jerry Donnan. - Medium formal double of pink blends. Bushy, upright growth. Early-midseason.
	Jesse Burgess.
...	Julia France. - Combining the simplicity of a Japanese-style semi-double with a large flower is a seldom-seen technique, yet it is achieved with great success in this wonderful “hose-in-hose” form bloom of silvery pink. Flowers appear in midseason on a vigorous, upright shrub. Julia France was winner of the coveted Ilges Award.
	Junior Miss - Pink semidouble. Very vigorous, compact, upright. Midseason.
	Kramer’s Supreme. - Never has there been a more aptly named camellia. The Kramer Brothers Nursery in California produced many good camellias, but we consider this the best. This is one of those shrubs so handsome of foliage and strong of growth that even if it never bloomed, it would still be useful. Flowers are a unique shade of red, large and peony form. Fragrant!
	Kujaki Tsubaki.
. ...	Kumasaka. - The history of this fine, strong-growing variety can be traced back to 1695. Exported to the West in 1895, it is still cultivated today for its cold hardiness and medium-sized blooms of deep rose pink. Flowers vary from rose form to peony, and cover the plant in midseason.
	Lady Clare. - Traced to Japan in 1867, Akashigata was renamed Lady Clare in England. Ever since, it has been one of the most popular camellias of all time. This strong grower of pendulous habit blooms early in the season with large semi-double flowers of carmine-rose. The display lasts well into the season.
	La Peppermint. - This variety remains one of our most popular for its dependable bloom. The compact upright habit and profusion of small, white striped in carmine flowers, seem to endear this 1800s variety to both men and women. This wonderful shrub blooms early to midseason.
	Lallarookh. - An exceptional garden camellia with foliage like laurel and a bloom unlike any other: a soft pink formal double marbled and dotted white. Lallarookh is an old European favorite that immigrated here in 1893 from France and Italy. Growth is slow and compact. The name comes from Thomas Moore’s popular 19th century poem, “Lalla Rookh”.
. ...	Lady Vansittart. - Unusual and beautiful holly-like twisted foliage sets this variety apart from others. The extremely cold-hardy plant bears semi-double flowers of blush pink striped rose-red to solid red in profusion during midseason. Lady Vansittart dates to Victorian England, 1887.
	Laura Walker. - Still well known and revered in Georgia, where it originated in 1956, this camellia has rarely been seen in our area. Three weeks after an 11-degree freeze in Mobile, several specimens of Laura Walker, planted in the open, were blooming better than any other camellias in our collection! The large blooms are semi-double to anemone, and an intense, bright red. Blooming midseason on a very strong but compact plant, there is much to recommend about Laura Walker.
. ...	Lindsay Neill. - A flower of rare quality from England, arriving in Georgia in 1840. Rich dark red flowers, heavily marbled in white. Semi-double to loose peony in form, they arrive early and continue into midseason on a contact, handsome shrub.
	Little Man. - As with many miniature flowered varieties, Little Man displays exuberant growth. Midseason flowers are perfectly formed double and a beautiful shade of white with a hint of blush. Very choice variety from Hugh Shackleford of Albany, Ga., in 1954.
	Lookaway.
. ...	Madame De Strekaloff. - A journey to Italy in 1855 would find the original of this beautiful flower. A medium-sized formal double to peony, it is pale pink striped with white. Flowers appear midseason and seem to invite the cutting shears!
	Magnoliaeflora. - (This ancient variety is slow of growth, but well worth the patience required.) Traveling to Italy in 1886 from Japan as Hagorama, it had been grown at least as far back as 1695. Magnoliaeflora carries its rich green foliage on sturdy limbs, and would not even need to bloom to be worthy of a place in the garden. However, it does bloom heavily in midseason with delicate blush-pink semi-double flowers.
...	Man Size. - One of the most popular miniature flowered camellias, Man Size has won top awards for its fine, white, anemone-like flowers. The midseason bloomer is a good grower as well, and no wonder, as its mother is the magnificent antique Magnoliaeflora. From Hammond, Louisiana, in 1961.
. ...	Marchioness of Salisbury. - The charm of this variety is found in the miniature peony-form flowers of dark red marked in white. In an age where large flowers dominate the camellia shows, you will always see a place for the Marchioness. Landing in Charleston in the 1880s, she has remained popular to this day.
	Margaret Davis Picotee. - White peony-form with magenta rose thin border. Slow and compact growth.
. ...	Margaret Higdon. (Elizabeth Grandy) This is another lovely garden camellia developed by Magnolia Gardens in the early 1900s. The blooms are mid-sized, colored rose-red and occasionally display white margins on the petals. The flower style is semi-double and the plant habit is vigorous and upright.
	Margaret Ratcliffe.
...	Marjorie Magnificent. - From the garden of G. H. Wilkinson of Pensacola came this marvelous 1949 shrub. Known for its ability to withstand extreme cold, it also carries an abundance of semi-double to anemone-form flowers of a beautiful light pink blend. A most sensational shrub -- we consider it one of the best.
	Marie Bracey. - From Valdosta, Ga., in 1953, Marie Bracey must have come as quite a surprise so early in the season. Large, semi-double to loose peony form blooms are a coral rose color. Marie would have many rivals in midseason, but we include it in our collection especially for its early bloom. Plant is medium, compact, and of upright growth. You will enjoy the October-through-December blossoms.
	Mark Alan Supreme. - Macoboy’s wonderful book on camellias describes this 1958 variety best: “One of my favourite camellias, Mark Alan Variegated blooms for me months on end, and the individual flowers hang on for weeks with no sign of fading. They are unusual, semi-double blooms with elongated lily-shaped petals, centered with a striking mass of petaloids. Coloring is wine-red, marbled in white.” You will have fun with this one. It is unique.
	Mary Charlotte. - This variety lives in relative obscurity today for reasons unknown to us. Wintergarden’s shrub dates to 1950, just three years after its introduction. The compact upright growth is covered with anemone form flowers of soft pink, almost blush. The blooming season is extended, starting very early and continuing well into midseason
	Mathotiana. (Purple Dawn) - The rose-to-formal double red bloom of “Purple Dawn” arrives in midwinter when the cool evenings give a decided purple cast to the Dawn’s flowers. This variety has provided a perennial show in the South since its arrival in Charleston from Europe in the 1840s. A vigorous grower with compact foliage, Mathotiana will grow to large proportions in the garden.
...	Mississippi Beauty. - We at Wintergarden wonder why this colorful camellia has been so overlooked for almost 60 years. Though it mustered little fanfare when introduced, Mississippi Beauty raised our eyebrows when we first spied it in a lonely garden in south Baldwin County, Alabama. Its flower is large and ranges from semi-double to peony. Enhancing the bloom are the brilliant red and pink stripings and blotchings on a white base. Buds are large and blooms come early. Others may ignore Mississippi Beauty, but she’s unforgettable in our garden.
	Morning Glow. - A vigorous, spreading camellia with white, formal flowers, Morning Glow is as lovely as its name. Introduced in 1948, this stately plant produces a heavy bud set and then blooms early and long. Wintergarden keeps a keen eye peeled for good garden plants with white blooms. Morning Glow fits that bill.
	Mrs. Charles Cobb.
...	Mrs. D. W. Davis. - This vigorous, spreading shrub has become one of the most requested at our nursery. The very large (nearly seven inches) bloom is breathtaking in color and form. The semi-double blossom is a shallow cupped form and the color is a very light blush pink. Midseason flowers are irresistible, and although the shrub is easy to grow, it is difficult to propagate.
	Mrs. Walter Allen Variegated .
...	Nelson’s Pink Seedling. - This was discovered in a great and well-preserved garden in Daphne, Ala., sporting a label made from an old Budweiser can and bearing the name of the originator. The flowers resemble the show winner Carter’s Sunburst (a background of pink striped in rose), but this plant seems to have much more vigor. We are as proud to offer this plant as Mr. Nelson must have been when he first gazed upon its beauty in the 1950s. (Note: We at Wintergarden have discovered many extraordinary camellias that either bear no name, or as in this case, one that cannot be found in literature. We plan on releasing one or two of these “found” camellias a year.)
...	October Affair. - Dr. Clifford Parks came up with quite a charmer in 1981 with October Affair. The early to midseason flowers are formal double in style, and light pink with distinctive deep pink outer petals. Combining early bloom and good upright growth, it is a must for any collection.
	Omega. - We consider this camellia to be one of the most overlooked varieties ever to come along. The vigorous growth coupled with the large semi-double blooms of blush white edged in coral make a spectacular picture in the garden. When you find a flower with flecks and streaks of rose as a bonus, be sure to thank Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Wilson of Hammond, Louisiana, for this fine 1965 introduction.
...	Oneita Holland. - Hailing from California in 1955, Oneita never became widely known outside of camellia shows. The controversial Frank Griffin, a “Siskel & Ebert” of the 1950s, displayed it on the cover of his magazine, The Camellian, and sang its praises within. The beauty of that picture prompted us to find an Oneita Holland. It is growing beautifully in the garden, producing lovely pure white loose peony-form flowers midseason.
	Pink Perfection. - Brought to the U.S. from Japan in 1875 as “Usu Otome”, this variety was promptly renamed Pink Perfection. Worn by Victorian gentlemen as a boutonniere and picked by the armfuls for the home, the abundant small double formal flowers are certainly perfect in their clear pink beauty. A long blooming season and sturdy growth have made this one of the best known camellias in existence.
	Prince Eugene Napoleon. (Pope Pius IX) - This sturdy plant came from Belgium in 1859 and must have amassed many admirers, for we see many stately specimens still standing at old homesites and in old, long-unattended gardens. The blooms are profuse, red, formal doubles that begin opening in midseason and continue late into the season.
	Prince of Fairhope - Red marbled white, peony. Strong, upright growth.
	Princess Lavender - Large semi-double lavender-pink. Unique color, vigorous, compact growth.
	Professor Charles Sargent. - Dating to 1925 from Charleston’s famed Magnolia Gardens, the Professor was destined to become one of the most popular varieties of all time. The reasons include its strong growth, cold-hardiness and consistent Christmastime bloom. Flowers are a glowing rich red and of full tight peony form.
	R. L. Wheeler. - The beauty of this variety is due to its incredible growth habit combined with very large, lavish blooms. From Central Georgia Nursery in 1949, R. L. Wheeler is considered by many camellia growers to be close to perfect in every way. The huge semi-double to anemone flowers are rose pink, often sporting white petaloids. The variety is cold-hardy and extremely vigorous.
...	R. L. Wheeler Variegated. - Similar in all respects to the above, but with a festive mottling of white throughout the bold flowers.
...	Raspberry Ice. - Originating in 1987 in California, the beautiful foliage of Raspberry Ice has thrilled many gardeners. The novel flowers stir much interest, as well. Foliage is quite holly-like and lustrous. Blossoms are light pink edged in white with raspberry streaks. The semi-double flowers appear midseason on a bushy, upright plant.
	Reverend John Bennett . - Salmon pink with veined petals. Medium, semidouble. Midseason.
	Rose Dawn. - This 1944 variety is often called “Davis Rose Dawn” in honor of its originator, Davis Nursery in Coden, Ala. The medium formal to rose-form flowers are deep rose pink and appear mid through late season on a vigorous spreading plant well suited for espalier. The foliage has a delightful twist to the leaf, adding to the distinctive look of this fine shrub.
. ...	Rosea Plena. - Yet another early camellia from Magnolia Gardens, Rosea Plena is still widely seen in older gardens with its bounty of formal double rose-pink midseason flowers. Very vigorous yet compact growth.
. ...	Rosea Superba. - This enticing sport of Mathotiana (Purple Dawn) arrived in the U.S. from Europe in the 1890s. We find it far superior to its parent, with a more stable, reliable and attractive bloom: a soft red, rose-form double, blooming mid to late season.
	Rutledge Minnix. - We like this little-known plant. It is very cold-hardy and presents a nice, compact, glossy foliage. Flowers are a semi-double, glowing coral red. An excellent 1959 garden plant from Columbus, Ga.
. ...	Sakuraba. - From Japan in 1860, Sakuraba is known as the “Cherry Leaf Camellia” for its distinctive foliage. Sakuraba has a compact growth habit. The unusual semi-double blooms vary in color from white to pink to rose on this variety of compact growth habit. There is nothing else like Sakuraba in all the camellia world.
	Sarasa. - Seldom seen in today’s offerings but deserving of any garden, Sarasa carries big, bold foliage on a vigorous, open, upright shrub. Flowers are medium, semi-double, and decidedly oriental in style. Simple flesh-pink petals are dotted and striped darker pink. Our plant was a gift to Green Nurseries from Mr. K. Sawada himself in the 1930s. One of his earlier introductions (1925), it blooms consistently here November through February.
	Sawada’s Mahogany. - We have yet to find the person who can identify this most unique flower. The original was found in the Mobile garden of renowned camellian K. Sawada. Apparently the flowers had been the talk of the neighborhood for years. The plant is quite vigorous and produces large anemone-to-peony-form flowers early in the season. The color is best described as a mahogany-red with a violet tint. We have never seen its duplicate and are half-convinced it is another of the late Mr. Sawada’s extraordinary seedlings.
	Sea Foam. - This shrub has seen a revival of interest lately, due to its excellent flowers. The large formal double is white and many-petaled. Sea Foam blooms late in the season on a strong, upright plant. Released by J. T. Weisner in Florida in 1959.
..	Shiro-Botan. - A 1947 introduction from Mobile’s Overlook Nurseries (where so many beautiful white camellias originated), Shiro Botan has semi-double and loose peony blossoms so purely white as to appear translucent. A vigorous grower and a sparkling gem!
..	Shiro Chan. - This snow-white sport of C. M. Wilson has a flush of pink at the base of the large, anemone-form flowers. The midseason blooms are borne on a vigorous, bushy, upright plant. Shiro Chan first appeared in 1953.
	Show Time. - Clear light pink, very large semi-double. Vigorous, midseason.
	Siegmund Garden. - Beautiful antique rose color intensifying with cold weather. Formal-rose form and compact.
	Spring Sonnett.
	Stephen's Garden.
...	Sweeti Vera. - An old English variety that arrived in the U.S. in the early 1830s. We found our first plant in a 50-year-old, well-maintained garden in Point Clear, Ala. Buds are prolific on this strong garden variety. Flowers are large, white and pale pink peonies that start blooming midseason.
	T. K. Variegated. - Named for the early 20th century Japanese nurseryman T. Kiyono, who settled in Mobile. Despite being rated second only to Berenice Boddy in cold-hardiness of flower and shrub, it is rarely seen today. We find the flowers among the most charming of any camellia. Small to medium in size, and simply semi-double, blooms turn face up on a very loose open growth plant, perfect for an oriental garden. Blooms are light pink edged and splashed with darker pink. Often sporting branches that bloom rose pink, T. K. is strikingly reminiscent of old Japanese floral prints.
	Tama No Ura. - If the flower of the beautiful Tama No Ura was borne on the most spindly of shrubs, it would still be widely grown. Indescribably charming flowers are simple, single, red-bordered white, reminding one of peppermint candy. This variety blooms profusely on a graceful spreading shrub. Imported from Japan to the U. S. in 1973, it is one of the favorites in our garden.
	Tammia. - Tammia Nursery in Slidell, Louisiana was once a mecca for camellia lovers from the 1960s through the ‘80s. What drew folks to Ferroll Zerkowsky’s greenhouses were extraordinary seedlings. Tammia is perhaps the most enduring and endearing. A formal double miniature white with a distinctive pink border, the flower is often star-shaped. We have never met anyone who did not immediately fall in love with the camellia. The Tammia nursery is now a subdivision with pockets of camellias scattered about in sad neglect, but many of the Zerkowskys’ creations still are treasured in gardens throughout the Southeast.
	The Mikado.
	Tick Tock.
	Tricolor.
..	Tom Cat. - Large, floppy light pink flowers are quite informal -- more like a tom cat than a show cat! A good garden variety with upright and open growth. Another Thomasville, Georgia creation dating from 1964.
..	Tom Thumb. - Tom Thumb can create a circus in your garden. The diminutive flowers are perfectly formal in shape, and a sharp contrast of soft pink bordered in white. Not seen much these days despite its unique beauty, Tom Thumb is an excellent grower, vigorous and compact. Now more than forty years old, it’s high time he made his comeback.
..	Tom Knudsen. - Whether the flower is peony, rose-form, or formal, there is one thing common to all the flowers of this 1965 release. The color is very rich, dark red with darker veining. The early-to-midseason blooming schedule and vigorous, compact habit make Tom unique among the dark reds, and quite colorful in the garden in winter.
..	Tomorrow. - This beautiful camellia came from Thomasville, Georgia in 1953, and has since produced seven beautiful sports, all of show quality. The large-to-very large flowers are an irregular peony form and a delicious strawberry red. Tomorrow blooms early to midseason on an open and slightly pendulous shrub.
..	Tomorrow Variegated. - First seen in 1957, this version has the same sterling qualities as the parent, but carries irregular patches of white.
..	Tomorrow’s Dawn. - Possibly the most beautiful of the many Tomorrows, 1960’s Tomorrow’s Dawn is a large-to-very large, semi-double to peony-form flower of various pink shades with an occasional red streak. The midseason bloom appears on a vigorous grower well worthy of any garden.
	Valerie. - Outstanding metallic red flowers, semidouble, early-midseason. Upright, rapid growth.
...	Vedrine. - A romantic variety from late 19th century Louisiana, Vedrine features graceful full growth and enhances the garden still further with its anemone-to-peony flowers of ruby red. Vedrine and its equally popular sport, Eleanor of Fairoaks, bloom over an extended period of time from early to midseason.
	Veiled Beauty. - Rose with lighter center. Very large rose-form, compact, upright, midseason.
..	Ville de Nantes. - Sport of the 1834 cultivar Donckelarri, Ville de Nantes first appeared in 1910, causing a sensation then just as it does now. Endearing to show judges and gardeners, its large wavy-petaled semi-double blooms are rich red heavily moired white (often with fringed petal edges) - a breathtaking sight.
	Vitata Fortunei. -
	Willard Scott. - Willard is all over the map in both color and form. Small formal double pink flowers to large blush-tipped pink peony-form flowers appear midseason. A strong and rapid-growing shrub, Willard is one of the best garden camellias of recent times. Originated by Mrs. H.S. Stone of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1986.
	Winifred Womack. - Davis Nursery near Mobile produced a rare jewel of a plant in 1955. The flowers and shrub are very cold-hardy. Semi-double blooms are a blush to light pink, medium-size and free-blooming on a vigorous, bushy, and very upright plant. Winifred Womack can be grown successfully over a very wide range of conditions.

Garden Hybrid Camellias

Among the first of the modern hybrid camellias raised from seed were those by J. C. Williams of Caerhays, Cornwall, England. Mr. Williams and others had obtained seed from the great plant explorations of China. His crosses of Camellia salunensis and Camellia japonica produced the beautiful Williamsii hybrids.

The first of his varieties, J. C. Williams in 1940, and Donation in 1941, were so good they are still grown widely today. These hybrids proved to be vigorous, heavy-blooming over a long period, and cold-hardy.

Later crosses included the Camellia reticulata hybrids –– the show flowers of today. Not nearly as cold-hardy as most camellias, the reticlata hybrids are useful as cutflowers for their incredible size and brilliant color.

	Delores Edwards. (1989) - Light Orchid Pink, large semidouble to peony. Vigorous, early.
	Fragrant Pink Improved. (1975) (C. rusticana x C. lutchuensis) - A cross of cold hardiness and fragrance. Miniature deep pink blooms are peony-form, blooming over a long season. Of strong growth, ours has formed an open, rounded large shrub. Performance improved in light shade.
	Freedom Bell. (Unknown parentage) - This is truly a charmer: coral-red bell-shaped flowers adorn the shrub beginning around Christmas. A good grower, open when young, but quite bushy at maturity. A rarity in that, despite being a small flower, it remains very popular in camellia shows. Simply irresistible!
...	Japanese Fantasy. (1988) (‘Berenice Boddy’ x (C.saluenensis x C.rosifolia) - The small white flowers tinted with pink edges appear in such profusion as to suggest a Japanese Cherry in bloom. Small, delicate foliage on a rapid and upright grower. Our original plant was the first camellia to bloom following a very hard freeze several years ago. A creation of Dr. Clifford Parks at Camellia Forest Nursery
	Julie Variegated.(1962) - Large, unusual salmon to peach pink marbled white. Upright, heavy growth.
	Taylor’s Perfection. (1975) (C. salulnensis) - Another great camellia of New Zealand origin, Taylor’s Perfection is one of the strongest growers in our garden. Flowers are unlike any other camellia, of a water lily form. Blooms are blush pink at the center and bold coral-rose at the edges. It blooms mid to late season, and is best used as a specimen shrub.
	Tiny Princess. (1961) (C. fraterna x ‘Akebono’) - Originated by K. Sawada, this unique camellia can still be found in old gardens of our area, although it is mostly unknown today. When people see it bloom, they instantly fall in love with its miniature semi-double to loose peony-form delicate pink-and-white flowers, which appear in great profusion during midseason. The slow, spreading, open growth is distinctly bronze. Tiny Princess will eventually make a large shrub, perfect for the border or against a fence wall. This is another fragrant camellia.
	Yume Hybrid.

Camellia Sasanquas

Egao. (C. vernalis)

Stephanie Golden. (C. sasanqua, 1980s)

including the species C. hiemalis, C. sasanqua, C. vernalis

The three species that are collectively known as “Sasanquas” have been grown in Japan longer than recorded history.

Camellia oil once was used for lighting, lubrication and cooking. The heavily-fruiting sasanqua (or “Plum Flowered Tea”) is used little in commerce today; however, the graceful beauty of the shrub still delights the world, from the 400-year-old trees of Kyoto temples to the magnificent specimens in gardens of the American Deep South.

Once looked upon as poor cousins to the japonicas, sasanquas have gained wide acceptance for their variety of uses in the garden,n and for their incredibly floriferous habit.

	Autumn Sentinel. (C. sasanqua, 1977) - Vigorous, dense, columnar growth habit and beautiful small dark green leaves make a wonderful background for the small flowers that bloom up the stems like Hollyhocks. Miniature light pink flowers are the color of Pink Perfection. A Green Nurseries introduction.
	Beni-Kan-Tsubaki or Shi-Shi-Gashira. (C. hiemalis, 1896) - This bush of dwarf habit has compact, dense foliage that lends itself to shaping for low hedges or container specimens. Our 60-year-old unpruned shrub is now more than ten feet tall, and produces masses of double rose-red flowers from October through New Years. Beni-Kan-Tsubaki can be easily kept to three feet tall. Think of it where you might be considering a boxwood or dwarf holly.
...	Bert Jones. (C. sasanqua, 1958) - Strong grower with exceptionally handsome foliage, this Australian introduction has large (for its species) flowers of silvery pink. Semi-double blossoms from autumn well into winter. Use as a specimen or for growing along a wall.
	Chansonette. (C. hiemalis, 1958) - Originated as a seedling of Beni-Kan-Tsubaki in Port Arthur, Texas. The deep, bright lavender-pink blooms are formal double and bloom over a long season on a low bushy grower, with rambling branches. Use as an espalier or tall groundcover.
	Choji Guruma. (C. sasanqua, 1789) - Long admired in Japan for the uniqueness of the flower, which is a small rose-pink perfect anemone form (hence the name, “Wheel of Anemone”). The stamens are all converted to a mass of rose-pink petaloids. Lovely flowers appear in late fall, on a loose, upright grower
	Dawn. (C. vernalis, 1789) - Like Choji Guruma, Dawn has been treasured in Japan for hundreds of years, because of its flower. Blooms are beautiful, and appear in early winter: white suffused with pink. Dawn grows compactly on an upright, graceful, treelike plant. Our stock plant dates back to the 1930s, and it towers over a driveway, blooming dependably every year during the Christmas season.
	Daydream. (C. sasanqua, 1948) - Originating in Mobile, Daydream has one of the prettiest foliages of any camellia. Dense, shiny, and dark green on an upright grower, Daydream makes a nice clipped tall hedge or screen. It is a shy bloomer when young, but large, showy flowers of white delicately tinged with pink appear on older shrubs.
	Egao. (C. vernalis) - Originating in Japan, Eago, (Smiling Face) more closely resembles a Camellia Japonica than a sasanqua. The large deep pink flowers are semi-double, blooming from late fall into early winter on handsome foliage. The strong plant boasts both upright and spreading growth. It is a very good camellia, worthy of much more use in the garden.
	Green's Blues. - Growth and bloom as per Shi-Shi. Blooms are uniquely rosy-purple with blue tints.
	Gulf Glory.
	Hana Jiman. (C. sasanqua, 1858) - A very old prized variety from Japan whose names translates to “Boastful Flower” –– and with good reason. The large flowers are irregular semi-double, with fluted petals. The color is white with a wide border of red-violet. An excellent grower, strong and upright, yet compact.
	Kanjiro. (C. hiemalis, 1954) - Beautiful in the garden as a tree, shrub or hedge, this plant of vigorous growth has a free-flowering habit. The large (for hiemalis) flowers are semi-double and of a deep rose color, blooming over a long period. In addition, Kanjiro’s disease resistance makes it an excellent choice for Camellia japonica under-stock..
	Leslie Ann. (C.sasanqua, 1958) - Fast becoming one of the most popular of the fall blooming camellias, this creation of the Ray Davis Nursery blooms so heavily it nearly hides the foliage. The charming white flowers have a picoteed magenta edging. Upright and compact habit.
	Little Pearl. (C. sasanqua, 1972) - Charming semi-double flowers are a light pink in bud, opening to white. Blooms are heavy on a very compact grower. Little Pearl is perfect for a container.