‘Crimson King’ And ‘Ruby Wedding’ – A Selection Of 19 Remarkable Red Camellias
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) C. japonica ‘Alexander Hunter’
- 2) C. japonica ‘Adolphe Audusson’
- 3) C. ‘Black Lace’
- 4) C. japonica ‘Black Prince’
- 5) C. japonica ‘Bob Hope’
- 6) C. japonica ‘Bob’s Tinsie’
- 7) C. japonica ‘Coquettii’
- 8) C. japonica ‘Grand Prix’
- 9) C. japonica ‘Grand Slam’
- 10) C. japonica ‘Jupiter’
- 11) C. japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’
- 12) C. japonica ‘Mars’
- 13) C. japonica ‘Mercury’
- 14) C. ‘Tom Knudsen’
- 15) C. ‘Royalty’
- 16) C. sasanqua ‘Crimson King’
- 17) C. × williamsii ‘Freedom Bell’
- 18) C. × williamsii ‘Les Jury’
- 19) C. × williamsii ‘Ruby Wedding’
There are a huge variety of different camellia shrubs to choose from, with flowers coming in a range of hues.
One way to start narrowing down your choices is to look at the colour of the blooms.
With large dramatic flowers, red camellias can be wonderful for bringing a vibrant and exotic feel to your garden.
All of these options are H5 hardy and can be grown in most soil types with an acidic pH as long as they are sited in a sheltered position.
1) C. japonica ‘Alexander Hunter’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘alexander hunter’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 2.5-4m spread
This large shrub with a compact growth habit and upright form can grow up to around 2-4m in height and width.
Its flowers are deep crimson in colour, with single or double forms, and grow to around 10cm across.
This plant is H5 hardy.
2) C. japonica ‘Adolphe Audusson’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘adolphe audusson’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
Growing quite large where conditions are ideal, this camellia has a fairly compact habit of growth.
Its flowers are semi-double and are a rich red in hue with yellow stamens, and can grow to around 10-12cm in diameter.
This plant is H5 hardy.
3) C. ‘Black Lace’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘black lace’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
A compact camellia rarely exceeding 2.5m in size, this option is one for those who love order, symmetry and precision in blooms, as Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly shares:
“I love the geometry of C. ‘Black Lace’, which contrasts with single flowered species and cultivars.
“I never fail to be awe-struck by the beautiful patterns of plant and flower forms.
“The only downside of these and similar double forms is that the pollen and nectar are difficult for pollinators to access.”
The geometric flowers are a deep red and form dramatic and orderly patterns against the deep green leaves.
This plant is also H5 hardy.
4) C. japonica ‘Black Prince’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘konronkoku’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Also known by the name ‘Konronkoku’, this camellia cultivar has beautiful, rich, red, double flowers that are around 10cm across, which bloom in later spring.
The shrub remains compact and grows to around 2.5m in height and width.
5) C. japonica ‘Bob Hope’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘bob hope’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Growing to around 3m, this camellia is another great option.
It has deep red, semi-double flowers which can grow to around 12cm across.
These lovely flowers bloom in the spring.
6) C. japonica ‘Bob’s Tinsie’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘bob’s tinsie’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
A great option for smaller spaces or a container, this camellia grows to around 2.5m tall and 1m wide.
It is notable for its anemone-form and double flowers with a bright red hue, which open to around 8cm across.
7) C. japonica ‘Coquettii’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘coquettii’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
With light, bright red, double flowers around 10cm across, this is another stunner.
It is medium-sized and quite slow growing, reaching around 2.5m in height and width if grown in optimal conditions and allowed to do so.
8) C. japonica ‘Grand Prix’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘grand prix’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 4-8m in height, 4-8m spread
A vigorous and medium-sized shrub that grows between 4-8m wide and tall, this camellia has bright red semi-double blooms which can be around 13cm in diameter.
This cultivar is H5 hardy.
9) C. japonica ‘Grand Slam’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘grand slam’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 2.5-4m spread
Growing to around 4m in height, this camellia has dark, glossy leaves and anemone-form double or semi-double blooms with a deep red hue that open to around 12cm across.
This variety is also H5 hardy.
10) C. japonica ‘Jupiter’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘jupiter’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Up to around 4m tall and 2.5m wide, this vigorous evergreen shrub has single or semi-double, rose-red, bowl-shaped blooms that are 9cm in diameter and have prominent golden stamens at the centre that are occasionally blotched with white.
11) C. japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘kramer’s supreme’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
This lovely, large evergreen shrub grows with an upright and bushy form to around 4m tall and 2.5m wide.
It has dark, glossy green leaves and, in the late winter to early spring, boasts large, double, peony-form flowers with good fragrance.
12) C. japonica ‘Mars’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘mars’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 2.5-4m spread
This large shrub with a lax habit can grow around 4m in height and width.
The flowers on this camellia variety grow to around 12cm across and are deep red with prominent goldeny-yellow stamens.
13) C. japonica ‘Mercury’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘mercury’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Around 2.5m tall and wide at maturity, this compact camellia has crimson double blooms which are around 12cm across.
These bloom in mid to late spring and are H5 hardy.
14) C. ‘Tom Knudsen’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘tom Knudsen’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Also growing up to around 2.5m tall and wide, this is a compact hybrid camellia and is a cross between C. japonica and C. reticulata.
It has deep rich green foliage and the flowers, which are of peony form, are double and deep red, blooming in winter and early spring.
This cultivar is H4 hardy.
15) C. ‘Royalty’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘royalty’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.5-1m spread
This small and compact camellia rarely exceeds 1m in height and width.
It has a lax growth habit, glossy dark green leaves and very large light red, semi-double flowers which are borne in mid or late spring.
16) C. sasanqua ‘Crimson King’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘crimson king’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): autumn / winter
- SUNLIGHT: full shade / full sun / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Growing around 2.5m in height and width, this camellia is another great evergreen shrub for many gardens.
One notable thing about this type of camellia is that it can cope in full sun as well as in shade.
The light red flowers are single and fragrant, with yellow stamens at the centre.
This variety is H4 hardy.
17) C. × williamsii ‘Freedom Bell’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘freedom bell’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
The bright red flowers on this evergreen shrub bloom from late winter.
They are funnel-shaped and semi-double, and look beautiful against the deep green foliage.
Another camellia variety that is H5 hardy.
18) C. × williamsii ‘Les Jury’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘les jury’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
This camellia grows to around 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide.
It flowers in early to mid spring, producing formal double blooms with a vibrant crimson hue.
This variety is also H5 hardy.
19) C. × williamsii ‘Ruby Wedding’
- COMMON NAME(S): camellia ‘ruby wedding’
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: full / part shade
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
Growing to around 1.8m tall and wide, this popular camellia variety has glossy, dark green foliage and bright red flowers.
The blooms are double and are anemone to peony-form.
