Camellia japonica 'Debutante' (Camellia)

Camellia japonica is a woody, evergreen shrub originally native to upland forest understories of eastern Asia and noted for its beautiful, showy flowers which differ greatly between cultivars. While some cultivars may be shorter, it is important to dedicate a lot of space to camellias when planting, as mature specimens require a lot of room for root spread in the soil, and plants can reach sizes of up to 15' tall and wide.

The 'Debutante' cultivar typically reaches a semi dwarf size of only 6-8' tall and wide, though both dimensions can vary greatly with pruning and advanced age. Originally listed under the name 'Sara C. Hastie' in 1930, 'Debutante' is a classic cultivar of camellia noted for its ornate, peony-form flowers in beautiful shades of cotton-candy pink. Soft, pink, ruffled blooms contrast excellently with the cultivar's smooth, glossy green leaves, and since 'Debutante' is one of the earliest spring camellias to bloom, it's sure to add beauty and grace to any late winter or early spring garden.

Due to their native upland forest habitat, camellias prefer part-shade conditions and moist, slightly acidic soils with a good amount of organic matter. With glossy, evergreen leaves and flowers that attract a great deal of early season pollinators, camellias are a great non-native introduction to any landscape that double as shelter for overwintering birds, and serve as an excellent deer-resistant evergreen for any garden.