Camellia japonica 'Kramer's Supreme' (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 typically reach sizes of up to 12' tall and wide.

Found as a chance seedling by nurseryman August Kramer of Kramer Brothers Nursery, this variety of camellia first bloomed in 1957 but only hit markets as a registered camellia in 1983. 'Kramer's Supreme' is an beautifully showy camellia cultivar noted for its vigorous growth rate, large red peony-form flowers, and impressive mature habit, typically growing to a mature size of 8-10' tall and 6-10' wide. As a consistent mid-season bloomer, you should see the 'Kramer's Supreme' cultivar's blooms last from from late winter to early spring, typically January through 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, as well as dense structure to help shelter birds, Camellia japonica 'Kramer's Supreme' is a great non-native inclusion to any landscape with the space for a truly impressive specimen planting.