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 large but still manageable height only eight to nine feet tall and wide at maturity, and is noted for its profuse flower bud set, long bloom window, and excellent semi-double pink flowers, which fade to pale pink or white near the center of each bloom. A recent but popular addition to the vast family of camellia cultivars, 'April Remembered' was first released in 1995 and was bred for increased cold hardiness, with blooms that can last through hard frosts from January through April.

Due to their native upland forest habitat, camellias prefer part-shade conditions and moist, fertile, slightly acidic soils. With glossy, evergreen leaves and flowers that attract a great deal of early season pollinators, as well as dense structure to help shelter birds, Camellia japonica 'April Remembered' is a great non-native inclusion to any landscape.