These bold, blousy beauties add a touch of old glamour to the spring garden, producing big single or double rose-like flowers in all shades of pink or red as well as white. They are fairly big evergreen shrubs which reach 2mx2m (6ftx6ft) and their glossy green foliage makes an effective backdrop for smaller plants which bloom later in the year.
Good varieties include C. x williamsii Donation', which produces pink, semi-double blooms, and Francis Hanger' which bears single white flowers. You can also get some spectacular C. japonica hybrids such as Mercury', although they need regular dead-heading.
Camellias thrive in fertile, well-drained lime-free soil with plenty of added compost, in a sheltered site in light shade or sun, provided the soil stays moist in summer. They shouldn't be allowed to dry out. If you haven't acid soil, grow them in large containers filled with ericaceous compost.
