Camellia japonica 'Silver Waves' (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 12' tall and wide.

The 'Silver Waves' cultivar is a product of camellia breeder William Goertz; since 1970, the colossal white and yellow blooms of 'Silver Waves' have been treated as the gold standard for what a white camellia can be. As an early bloomer, you'll only have to wait a few months from summer's end to start seeing the massive gold and snow-white blooms of your 'Silver Waves' camellia, as their bloom window lasts anywhere from October to March!

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.