Camellia sasanqua: The Star of Winter Blooms

There is no need to wait for spring to enjoy the beauty of blooms. Even in frigid weather, our milder Willamette Valley offers us the joy and color of many early bloomers. Once the winter sun emerges on its long, slow climb northward, the flower buds on these plants burst open. They offer us a showy display of cheerful color during the dreariest of winter days. 

 

The star of all winter-blooming shrubs is the camellia. Camellias bring beautiful blossoms in the midst of winter. We’ve picked our favorites below for their outstanding ability to perform. These graceful evergreen shrubs clothe themselves with hundreds of blossoms set against a lavish background of dark green leaves. Their ability to flourish in full sun or shade allows for greater freedom of use in the landscape.

 

Apple Blossom Camellia - Camellia sasanqua ‘Apple Blossom’

Profuse blossoms with white petals edged in vivid cerise-red adorn this shrub from October through early December. This variety is an upright grower that can reach up to 10 feet high and wide.

 

 

 

Yuletide Camellia - Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Single, brilliant, fiery red blooms centered with bright yellow stamens makes this one of the most outstanding varieties. The blossoms stand out in high contrast against the dark green glossy foliage. Yuletide’s strong weeping habit makes the plant open and graceful. A late season bloomer, flowers will appear from December into January.   Expect slow growth up to 10 feet tall and wide.

Brilliant magenta pink formal double flowers are a bold standout against the dark foliage of this elegant camellia. An unusually short, pendulous habit bearing glossy dark green leaves proves ideal for a cascading groundcover. This camellia is perfect for hanging baskets or pots and thrives in sheltered sites with bright shade.   Blooms appear in October through early December. Chansonette will moderately grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.

Kanjiro Camellia - Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro’

This truly stunning camellia features cerise-pink semi-double blossoms edged in red with golden stamens and a slight fragrance. They make outstanding cut flowers and bloom from October through early December. Its dense semi-weeping habit and dark green glossy foliage produces an exceptional evergreen for foundation planting and backgrounds. This camellia is a slow grower to 6-8 feet tall and as wide.

Setsugekka Camellia - Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’

Large, perfectly formed semi-double white flowers with ruffled edges are accented with bright clusters of golden stamens at the center. This upright bloomer thrives in sheltered sites with bright shade and makes an excellent evergreen for foundation plantings. Setsugekka will slowly grow 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. 

Blooms appear in October through early December.