What: The J.C. Williams camellia is a prized hybrid, one of many crosses of camellia saluenensis and camellia japonica.
Plant hunter George Forrest collected camellia saluenensis in China and shipped it to J.C. Williams, the owner of Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, England. This resulting clone was a hybrid from the castle’s garden in the 1930s.
Why plant it: Its evergreen leaves are held on fan-shaped branches and its overall habit is compact.
This large upright evergreen shrub is hardier than its ancestors and produces single, clear pink flowers in great abundance from late winter until spring.
Where: Like most camellias, it prefers part shade in rich, well-drained soil. As a member of the tea family, it also prefers acidic soil. Provide supplemental water in summer.
How:J.C. Williams works as a backdrop for a dazzling spring display of hellebores and bulbs.
Several plants can be arranged to create a screen.
Actual size: Expect it to reach 8 feet high and wide in 10 years, maturing at about 15 feet high and 10 feet wide.
Learn more: See www.greatplantpicks.org.
Source: Great Plant Picks
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