Camellia japonica 'Tom Knudsen' (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 camellia grower Frank Maitland in Sylmar, California in 1956, 'Tom Knudsen' is an excellent showy camellia cultivar noted for its large, doubled, peony-form scarlet-red flowers. 'Tom Knudsen' is slightly smaller than other cultivars, typically growing to a mature size of 6-8' tall but occasionally larger with time. As a consistent late-season bloomer, you should see 'Tom' bloom from late winter to early spring, where bright red flowers, glossy green leaves, and a dusting of snow make an excellent impression in the holiday and post-holiday landscape.

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 'Tom Knudsen' is a great non-native inclusion to any landscape.