Camellia japonica 'Jerry Hill' (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 'Jerry Hill' cultivar typically reaches a semi dwarf size of only 6-8' tall and wide, though both dimensions can vary greatly with pruning and advanced age.

Originally registered in only 1995, 'Jerry Hill' has quickly become a sensational camellia for its showy, even, formal-doubled blooms in shades of rose to dark pink. Among the spring camellias, 'Jerry Hill' is a bit of a late bloomer, but is highly frost resistant thanks to its parentage (Camellia japonica 'Frost Queen'). This delay in bloom and high cold tolerance makes Camellia japonica 'Jerry Hill' a great additional to any garden, but especially in northern landscapes where its blooms will shine even when covered in the occasional late frost.

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, Camellia japonica 'Jerry Hill' is a great non-native ornamental selection that doubles as shelter for overwintering birds, and serves as an excellent deer-resistant evergreen for any garden.