Camellia japonica ‘Herme’

Dazzlingly pretty and vigorous, Camellia japonica ‘Herme’ features medium-sized flowers, 3-4 in. wide (7-10 cm), semi-double, dark salmon-pink flowers, irregularly bordered in white and finely streaked with darker pink. Fragrant, the spectacular blooms are graced in their center with masses of petaloids (small petals) mixed with golden stamens. The flowers are abundantly produced over several months in mid-season (January – March in the Northern Hemisphere; June – August in the Southern Hemisphere). The luxuriant foliage of glossy dark green leaves is evergreen and very ornamental year-round. Perfect choice to dress up a wall or train as an espalier.

• This evergreen shrub has an upright, spreading habit and grows up to 6-8 ft. tall and wide (180-240 cm)
• A part shade to full shade lover, this plant is best grown in consistently moist, acidic, organically rich, well-drained soils. Provide a site sheltered from cold, dry winds, as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds. Protect from the early morning sun and the direct hot summer afternoon sun.
• May be attacked by aphids, scale insects, and vine weevil
• Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic winter blooms. Great flowering shrub for woodland gardens or as a screen and hedge. Perfect as a specimen plant and may be effectively grown in tubs or large containers.
• Apply a root mulch (leaves or shredded bark)
• Prune after flowering. Prune to thin branching and to control size and shape.

Camellia japonica is the pre-eminent species of the genus and counts over 30 000 cultivars in a wide array of flower forms and colors. The blooms can reach 5 in. across (12 cm) and create a gorgeous floral display from late winter to spring. They range from pure white to soft pink to dark red and may be single, semi-double, double, formal double, or full peony form. Slow grower, this broadleaved, evergreen shrub may grow up to 25 feet (7.5 m), but more often to 6-12 feet (180-360 cm) with a spread of 6-10 feet (180-300 cm). Its shapely habit, handsome, glossy foliage, and fabulous flowers have attracted gardeners for hundreds of years in Asia. Long-lived, some Japanese camellias around the emperor’s palace in Japan are known to be more than 500 years old. Unfortunately, Japanese camellias are not always cold-hardy (USDA Hardiness Zone 7 – 9).