Camellia japonica 'Goggy' (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 'Goggy' cultivar was first registered in Texas in 1979, and its noted for its dainty, cream to blush-white, semi-doubled flowers. While not true white, the light pink or rich cream hues given to these flowers work excellently when contrasted with the plant's dark foliage and the partial-shade that specimens tend to be planted in, adding a touch of beauty and grace to the late winter and early spring garden, befre many other plants have a chance to bloom.

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, as well as dense structure to help shelter birds, Camellia japonica 'Goggy' is a great non-native inclusion to any landscape.