Plant of the Month: January

Camellia x williamsii 'Saint Ewe' Family: Theaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: From 2-5m high by 1-3m wide Form: Rounded shrub Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich acid soil Aspect: Partial or dappled shade sheltered from cold winds and morning sun Hardiness: Hardy throughout the British Isles

Camellias are grown throughout Rosemoor Garden, with the more mature specimens to be found in Lady Anne's Garden. Camellia x williamsii 'Saint Ewe' is situated in the Stone Garden, where it benefits from the shelter of a west-facing wooded hillside to the rear, often coming into flower before the turn of the year and continuing to produce an abundant display of blooms for several months. A number of other excellent camellias also take advantage of this ideal site.

Camellias

Camellias are long-lived evergreen shrubs and small trees found in woodland. They naturally occur in southern China and adjacent countries with warm temperate climates. They are found in varying habitats from coastal and hillside scrub to woodland and rain-forest.
Camellias have a long history of association with man, the first recorded mention being about 1725 BC when a Chinese emperor declared that an infusion of the leaves of Camellia sinensis (tea) was his favourite drink. The most widely grown ornamental species is C. japonica, which reached the west in the 1700s and became popular in Britain in the early 1800s because of the great diversity of form and colour of its flowers. More species became available through the 19th century and early 20th century, including C. saluenensis, which allowed hybridizers to produce hybrids with greater hardiness and longer flowering period.

The genus Camellia was named by Linnaeus for Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706) a Jesuit pharmacist, born at Brno, Moravia. Kamel latinized his name to Camellus and under it wrote an account of the plants of the Island of Luzon in the Philippines. This account was published in London in 1704 by John Ray as an appendix to his Historia Plantarum.

Camellias require a cool winter and many will tolerate moderate frosts, but they must have good drainage, plenty of organic matter and a soil pH of between 5 and 7. C. japonica prefers an acidic soil and is said to be the hardiest species, though it is very variable and thus hardy to varying degrees. Camellia x williamsii and similar hybrids are often less demanding than C. japonica and do particularly well in northern England and Scotland.

Camellia x williamsii 'Saint Ewe'

This bright pink, single flowered hybrid is believed to be a cross between C. japonica and a dwarf form of C. saluenensis. All the cultivars from the cross are strong-growing shrubs with elliptic glossy, bright green leaves which tend towards C. japonica, while the flowers are similar to C. saluenensis, which has large, single, trumpet-shaped flowers.
'Saint Ewe' was one of the first camellias raised by JC Williams at Caerhays Castle in Cornwall. Other plants from the same cross were named 'JC Williams' and Mary Christian'.
Camellia x williamsii 'Saint Ewe' is exquisitely beautiful and exceedingly free flowering and one of the most valuable hybrid camellias ever produced. It is perhaps the best camellia for general planting in the British Isles.

The RHS Rhododendron & Camellia Committee awarded 'Saint Ewe' the AGM with the following comments:
'Large shrub with single, broadly funnel-shaped, rose-pink flowers to 10cm (4in) wide'

'An outstanding old favourite' CH Williams
'Very floriferous with good colour' . Archibold
'Excellent, reliable single, vigorous, upright' Miss J Trehane

It had previously been recognised by RHS Floral Committee B with the following description:
'Like the previously certificated hybrids 'JC Williams' and 'Mary Christian', this arose from a cross made by the late Mr JC Williams between Camellia japonica and C. saluenensis. In the exhibitor's garden it forms a neat, freely-branching shrub up to 15 feet in height with lustrous deep green leaves and flowers about 3½ inches across, each having about nine oblong-elliptic petals, in colour Rose Madder (HCC 23/2), and a central cluster of bright yellow stamens.'

Cultivation

Camellias like to grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil. They do not like to be planted too deep, so the top of the rootball should be positioned so that it is level with the firmed soil.
The site should be in partial or dappled shade and sheltered from cold dry winds and early morning sun as the buds and flowers are often damaged by late frosts and cold winds.
If camellias are not watered during dry weather they can suffer from bud drop, thus reducing the floral display.
Most camellias need little attention, though some young plants benefit from formative pruning while older plants may need renovation. Prune in spring, after flowering, but before growth buds break. Deadheading is not necessary since the spent flowers are shed naturally.
To encourage bushy growth, reduce thin leggy shoots of young plants to two or three buds or remove entirely. To restrict the size and encourage a free-flowering habit the previous season's growth on established plants can be cut back to just above the old wood.
Camellias can be affected by a number of pests, including scale insects, red spider and bud mites, aphids and caterpillars. Diseases that affect camellias often lead to dieback, which can be controlled by pruning, though where it is endemic more rigorous solutions may be required.
Virus diseases also affect camellias, producing light markings on the leaves and white spots and stripes on the flowers. They are more prominent in warm climates where they are also spread deliberately by grafting to produce interestingly marked flowers.

Propagation

Although the original hybrids were raised by seed, to maintain the characteristics of a named cultivar cuttings must be taken.
Propagation is normally by semi-ripe cuttings of the current seasons growth taken from late summer to winter. Rooting will usually take around two to three months, but with the use of bottom heat may be speeded up.
Camellias can also be grafted, with side or cleft grafting carried out when the plants are dormant.

More information

Advice on growing camellias can be found by clicking here.

The RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group

Founded in 1945, this group is for all RHS Members who share an interest in rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias and associated plants. Click here for more information.