Camellia japonica 'April Remembered' (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 'April Remembered' cultivar reaches a more manageable height of only eight to nine feet tall and wide, and is noted for its profuse flower bud set, long bloom window, and excellent pale pink flowers, which fade to white near the center of each bloom. Flowering windows also differ greatly between cultivars, and 'April Remembered' typically blooms from late January to to early April.

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.