Camellia sasanqua Gay Border

Camellia x sasanqua 'Gay Border' is a beautiful autumn camellia bush that is vigorous in nature. Its slightly twisted appearance and flexible branches give it a Japanese feel. Its fragrant flowers bloom between October and December and resemble those of wild roses, with white petals and bright pink edges. This evergreen bush requires a limestone-free soil and is perfect for planting alone in the garden, in a container, or as a flowering hedge.

The Camellia genus belongs to the tea family. It is predominantly native to East Asia. Derived from Camellia sasanqua, the horticultural variety 'Gay Border' forms an upright but compact bush that grows relatively slowly, reaching a height of 1.50 m (4.9 ft) and a width of 1 m (3.3 ft) in 10 years. Its exceptionally long flowering period extends from October to December and emits a spicy fragrance. The simple flowers measure 3 cm (1.2 in) in diameter. The white colour of the petals is enhanced by a touch of bright pink on the edges and a golden yellow stamen. Individually, the flowers are short-lived but continuously renew themselves. The dense and evergreen foliage is composed of small, shiny dark green leaves that are tough and measure 5 cm to 8 cm (2 in to 3.1 in) in length.

Camellia x sasanqua 'Gay Border', like its Japanese parent, tolerates sunlight and dry periods better than other camellias. It thrives in mild climates rather than in cold regions, where its hardiness is sometimes compromised and its flowering is destroyed. Where winters are not too harsh, it can be planted alone in the garden or combined with other acid-loving plants (for example, Rhododendron, azaleas, hydrangeas, witch hazels) in a flowering hedge. 'Gay Border' deserves a prominent position in a flower bed, at the entrance of the garden or along a path. It looks stunning when its trunk has formed and its branches have grown. You can also plant bulbs around its base, such as colchicums or cyclamen. In colder regions, it can be placed on a balcony or terrace and brought indoors during winter in a cold greenhouse or conservatory. Note that its flexible branches can be trained against a trellis or wall. In extreme cases, it can be protected from the cold in an apartment, provided its foliage is regularly misted and watered with non-limestone water.