Fragrant Camellias: Discovering The Sweetly Scented Varieties

what camelias have fragrance

While some sources claim that camellias do not have a scent, there are several species of camellia that are said to have a desirable fragrance. Camellias are an amazing addition to any garden, and their scent is just an added bonus. If you're seeking fragrant camellias, there are a few options to consider. Some camellia species with notable fragrances include Camellia 'Fragrant Pink', Kramer's Supreme, and the Marie Bracey Camellia. These varieties offer sweet, spicy, or cinnamon fragrances and are known for their beautiful blooms and foliage. Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua are also mentioned as having some fragrance, along with various hybrids.

Characteristics and Values Table for Fragrant Camellias

Characteristics Values
Species Camellia Japonica, Camellia sasanqua
Cultivars Kramer’s Supreme, Marie Bracey, Ack-Scent, Camellia 'High Fragrance', 'Fragrant Pink'
Fragrance Cinnamon, old-fashioned rose, peony, jasmine
Bloom Time Winter, late winter, spring, mid to late season (January to April), fall (buds form in January through March)
Flower Colour Pink, red
Flower Size 4-5 inches wide
Foliage Glossy, serrated, dark green, evergreen
Shape Upright, rounded
Other Features Deer, drought, and heat-tolerant; disease-resistant
Soil Requirements Fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch
Hardiness Zones USDA hardiness zones 7-10

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Kramer's Supreme: a high-fragrance camellia with bold red blooms

Kramer's Supreme Camellia, also known as Camellia japonica 'Kramer's Supreme', is a high-fragrance camellia with bold red blooms that is perfect for your garden. This flowering evergreen has an upright, naturally rounded habit and can be used in a variety of ways in your garden.

Kramer's Supreme Camellia is a relatively low-maintenance shrub that provides an abundance of colour and fragrance. The bold red blooms, about 5 inches wide, appear in late winter and last until spring. These sweetly scented flowers have heavy petals and are highlighted by bright yellow stamens that attract bees and other curious beneficial pollinators. The deep red buds open to magnificent peony-like, rosy-red flowers with a delightful fragrance. The mid-season blooms create a dazzling contrast against the glossy, dark green foliage, brightening lightly shaded settings.

Kramer's Supreme Camellia is drought-tolerant and thrives in unfavourable conditions. It can reach a height of 6 to 9 feet and can be trained into any size or shape, even creating a multi-trunked tree form. This camellia prefers partial shade and moist, fertile, acidic, and well-drained soil. To care for your Kramer's Supreme Camellia, water it deeply at least twice weekly when newly planted. As the plant ages and shades its own roots, its water requirements will diminish.

Kramer's Supreme Camellia is a beautiful addition to your garden, providing colour and fragrance when few other plants are in bloom. It is perfect for foundation plantings, hedges, or as a privacy screen. With its stunning red blooms and delightful fragrance, it is sure to be a conversation starter in your garden.

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Marie Bracey: a fragrant, bright pink-flowered camellia that is deer, drought, and heat-tolerant

Marie Bracey is a beautiful and resilient camellia variety that delights the senses with its vibrant pink flowers and pleasant fragrance. This particular cultivar is known for its robust tolerance to deer, drought, and heat, making it a versatile choice for gardeners in various climates.

The bright pink flowers of Marie Bracey are a sight to behold. Each bloom features delicate, perfectly formed petals that create a stunning visual impact in any garden setting. The vibrant pink hue adds a touch of elegance and charm, making it a favourite among those who adore colourful floral displays.

The fragrance of Marie Bracey is another notable attribute. While many camellia varieties are prized primarily for their exquisite beauty, this cultivar offers an added sensory experience. The flowers emit a subtle, yet delightful aroma that can be enjoyed by those who take the time to pause and appreciate their scent. The fragrance is often described as delicate and refreshing, enhancing the overall appeal of this camellia variety.

In terms of growth habit, Marie Bracey typically forms a compact shrub that can reach a height of around 6 to 8 feet at maturity. Its dense, lush foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the vibrant pink blooms, creating a visually appealing contrast in the landscape. Marie Bracey is also known for its excellent flowering habit, producing an abundance of blooms that can brighten up any garden or patio area.

The deer, drought, and heat tolerance of Marie Bracey is a significant advantage for gardeners in regions where these conditions are a concern. This camellia variety exhibits remarkable resilience, making it a low-maintenance choice that can thrive with minimal intervention. Its ability to withstand deer browsing makes it an excellent option for those seeking to create a stunning garden display without worrying about deer damage.

Overall, Marie Bracey is a fragrant, bright pink-flowered camellia that offers both visual appeal and a delightful fragrance. Its resilience and low-maintenance nature make it a versatile choice for gardeners, ensuring that this camellia variety will be a cherished addition to any garden or outdoor space.

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Camellia Japonica: a fragrant shrub with origins in Japan

Not all camellia bushes have fragrant blooms, but several species do have a desirable fragrance. One of these is the Camellia Japonica, a shrub native to Japan. This flowering shrub makes an excellent focal point in the garden with its glossy, lush foliage and large, colourful flowers.

Among the Camellia Japonica species, several cultivars claim to have a fragrance. The blooms of the Camellia Japonica open in profusion as summer fades and the leaves begin to turn. The flowers are mostly single or semi-double and are not as large and showy as those of the Camellia Sasanqua. However, the Japonica species produces an abundance of blooms, making up for their smaller size.

The High Fragrance Camellia, also known as Camellia x High Fragrance, is a unique variety of Camellia Japonica with a noticeable scent. This shrub can be grown in the ground or in containers and features showy, fragrant, creamy white trumpet-shaped flowers with shell pink overtones, buttery yellow throats, and hot pink edges. The dark green foliage stays evergreen all year round, providing a beautiful backdrop to the vibrant flowers.

Another fragrant variety of Camellia Japonica is the Kramer's Supreme, which boasts bold red blooms that appear in late winter and hang around into spring. These sweetly scented flowers are about 5 inches wide and heavily petaled, adding a pop of colour and fragrance to any garden.

The Marie Bracey Camellia is another fragrant cultivar of Camellia Japonica that is known for its bright pink flowers and glossy green leaves. This evergreen shrub is deer, drought, and heat-tolerant, as well as disease-resistant, making it a low-maintenance addition to any landscape.

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The Camellia Sinensis, also known as the tea plant, is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree in the flowering plant family Theaceae. It is native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, with China, India, Japan, and Sri Lanka being the largest cultivators of the plant. The Camellia Sinensis plant can grow up to 30 meters high, but tea cultivators prune the plants to keep them at waist height to make harvesting easier and promote new growth.

The Camellia Sinensis plant has vibrant green, serrated leaves and can produce white, fragrant flowers with 7-8 white or pink-tinged petals and yellow stamens. The flowers start blooming when the plant is about four years old. The leaves, leaf buds, and stems of the plant are used to produce tea, with the smaller, younger leaves and buds being used for green tea, and the older, larger leaves for oolong and black tea. The tea leaves are almost exclusively harvested by hand, as machines tend to damage the leaves. The leaves are then taken to a local production facility, where they are sorted, withered, dried, and sometimes oxidized to produce different types of tea.

The two major varieties of the Camellia Sinensis plant are the Camellia Sinensis var. sinensis and the Camellia Sinensis var. assamica. The former is the Chinese variety, which has small leaves and is more tolerant of cold weather, while the latter is from the Assam region of northern India and has larger leaves. The Assam variety yields rich and full-bodied tea, while the Chinese variety is used to produce most Chinese teas, including green tea, which is typically roasted or pan-fired to prevent oxidation.

The tea produced from the Camellia Sinensis plant has varying flavours depending on the soil composition, climate, and where it is grown. For example, Darjeeling tea, from the cool and wet Darjeeling region in the foothills of the Himalayas, is delicately flavoured and considered one of the finest teas in the world. On the other hand, Nilgiri tea, from a southern region of India, is subtle and gentle and is often blended with other, more robust teas.

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Camellia High Fragrance: a camellia with soft pink flowers and a scent similar to roses, peonies, or jasmine

The Camellia 'High Fragrance' is a delightful addition to any garden, offering both a beautiful display and a sweet scent. This graceful evergreen shrub has an open growth habit, with large, semi-double flowers in a peony form. The petals are a blushing, soft pink, with creamy white undertones, and golden-yellow stamens. Blooming from late winter to spring, the Camellia 'High Fragrance' is a real delight during the colder months when gardens often offer little. The flowers are around 4-5 inches wide and heavily petalled.

The scent of this camellia variety is a real draw, with notes of rose, peony, and jasmine. The fragrance is a wonderful bonus to the plant's aesthetic appeal, and the overall effect is a treat for the senses. The glossy, dark green leaves have finely serrated margins, providing an attractive backdrop to the blooms.

The Camellia 'High Fragrance' is a robust and resilient plant, tolerating more shade, heat, and drought than many other flowering plants. It grows best in acidic soil, with a pH of 5.1-6.0, and requires moderate, regular watering. This camellia variety can reach a mature height and width of 6-8 feet, making it a substantial, yet elegant, addition to any garden.

The Camellia 'High Fragrance' is a real find for gardeners seeking fragrant plants, as many camellia species lack a strong scent. While some camellias do have a desirable fragrance, they may not have the most desirable size, colour, or flower form. However, the Camellia 'High Fragrance' offers the best of both worlds, with its stunning soft pink blooms and delightful aroma.

Frequently asked questions

While some sources claim that camellias do not have a scent, others list several fragrant species, including: Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua, Camellia 'Fragrant Pink', Camellia 'High Fragrance', and Kramer’s Supreme.

The scent of camellias has been compared to old-fashioned roses, peonies, or jasmine. One source describes the fragrance as spicy, while another says it resembles cinnamon.

The blooming period varies depending on the camellia species and cultivar. Some camellias bloom in the fall, while others bloom in late winter or spring.

To grow a fragrant camellia, provide fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. For growers in colder climates, the camellia can be kept in a container and brought indoors during the winter.

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